Field Notes 2025

F

2025

ield Notes

WOMEN AS MULTITASKING WONDERS

Field Notes2025

FIELD NOTES

Table of Contents A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD

1

PRIZEGIVING SPEAKER

2

72 YEARS YOUNG

4

BOARDING ADVENTURES

5

EVELYN’S NETBALL JOURNEY

6

BEING A TRUE FRIEND

8

NEWLYWEDS

9

CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF PF FRIENDSHIP

10

BREAKING GLASS CEILINGS

11

MOTHER KNOWS BEST

12

FROM BROADCASTING TO BREATHWORK

13

BEING ENOUGH

14

THE POWER OF REINVENTION*

15

FINDING A WAY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC

17

EDITOR’S NOTE

18

*THIS ARTICLE COMES WITH A DISCLAIMER AS THE CONTENT MAY BE TRIGGERING, PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD

Dear Old Girls, As I come to the end of my first full year as Head of Prior’s Field, I have been reflecting on what a privilege it has been to lead this wonderful school. Over the past year, I have continually been amazed by the way our community truly lives by our motto: “We live by admiration, hope and love.”

I so admire our girls, both past and present.

Not only for their academic successes but also for their remarkable achievements in the creative arts, on the sports field and in their personal ventures beyond the classroom. I look forward with hope to the opportunities that lie ahead: the hope that our current girls will not only continue to make progress in their studies and try new things for the sheer joy of new experiences, but also that every girl will find a friend, for just one friend can make all the difference. Lastly, what I perhaps love most about Prior’s Field is our community.

The pride each person takes in being a part of it, and the kindness we show one another.

It has been wonderful to read some of your recent stories and achievements; they are nothing short of inspiring. I want to take this opportunity to remind you that you will always be a part of the Prior’s Field community – our door is always open, and we will always welcome you back with open arms.

With admiration, hope, and love, Zoe Ireland 1

PRIZE GIVING SPEAKER 2025 Given that the theme of Field Notes this year is women as multitasking wonders, it is fitting that old girl Rebecca Gwyther was invited to Prior’s Field to speak to our outgoing pupils at prize giving earlier this year. Rebecca is the epitome of a multifaceted woman, a woman who lets no boundaries define her, and has carved her own path, and indeed reaped great success from her work. Rebecca proves that one does not have to limit nor label themselves to either STEM or the arts, but embraces her talents and passions for both.

My parents were always avid theatre goers and from quite a young age I absorbed theatre in every form I could — through inspiring classes with Mr Lodge, Mrs Horton, and Mrs Halcrow; through LAMDA with Ms Kobzik and Ms Rogers; and in my spare time via Saturday schools and local am-dram productions. As my love for theatre escalated and my parents were less keen on seeing shows in shipping containers, I started writing reviews in an online publication just to get free tickets to shows in London, which I usually wrote up on the train home.

And while many in our year went off to other sixth forms, I chose to stay at Prior’s Field. I kept my broad education going with A-Levels in Maths, Physics, English and Drama — a combination that left many people baffled — and topped it off with a LAMDA Diploma in American Literature.

Staying at Prior’s Field gave me the opportunity to cement friendships with those I’d grown up with and to take on more responsibility at school. I looked after my Fourth Formers as a Prefect (I still can’t believe they all have jobs now!) and led Frank House alongside Mrs Baines. One unforgettable highlight of my Sixth Form days was a chaotic and joyful trip to Greece where Mrs Horton outdanced all of us.

In my final years, I also directed multiple (award-winning!) House Drama competitions, which gave me my first taste of something beyond the stage. I had realised that I wasn’t nearly as talented as some of my peers and this opportunity really opened my eyes to something else in the industry that met with my skillset.

After finishing at Prior’s Field I was still unsure of what to read at University so I battled through a sleep deprived Edinburgh Fringe and instead of backpacking around South East Asia for a year, I was accepted into a free Director’s Training Programme where I spent six months learning how to direct and produce. At 18, I staged my first professional production but without the support and opportunities I’d received at Prior’s Field I can safely say there is no way I would have otherwise achieved this.

For the rest of my gap year, I threw myself into producing, mounting over six shows in the following six months.

Even though I felt I’d found my path, I still wasn’t ready to specialise. So I accepted a place at King’s College London while continuing my work in professional theatre. My Liberal Arts degree allowed me to continue all the subjects I enjoyed creating an all-encompassing education with everything from Spanish to Logic to Philosophy of Physics to Political Theatre. I graduated with a First Class Honours, majoring in English and minoring in Philosophy — and somehow also managed produce 15 more professional productions, including a West End transfer in my three years.

2

You’d think that after all that I’d be done with formal education — but no. After finishing University I still wasn’t sure whether I wanted to make the leap into theatre full time. In doing some research on senior leaders in the theatre industry, I realised that many had a Chartered Accountancy qualification. So I pivoted to a slightly different skillset and trained to become a Chartered Accountant in the City.

Despite missing theatre immensely and finding less time to work on my own projects due to the intense hours and many exams, it was fortuitous that when the pandemic hit, I was in a salaried job back in leafy Godalming at my parents home. Working from home meant I could keep developing theatre projects over Zoom and I built relationships with artists I loved and developed some of my favourite shows during this time.

After qualifying, I went down to part time hours at the firm to start building my own production company and shortly after I handed in my notice. This received the reaction from our managing partner: ‘we knew you’d always leave but we hoped it wouldn’t be as fast as this. If you produce a flop and go bankrupt, come back to us’.

Today, I run a small production company that specialises in developing new work and collaborating with international producers. This year alone, I’ve premiered three new plays, transferred an award-winning Japanese production (that year of Japanese lessons at PF did come in handy!), opened a hit burlesque show, and have six more shows to go — including two new musicals and a long-awaited transfer of a project I’ve been developing since 2020.

For years I thought being a “Jack of all trades, master of none” was a flaw. But as it turns out, that’s exactly what makes a good producer. From understanding technical setups and budgets to managing hundreds of people and creatively shaping new work — it all requires adaptability, broad knowledge, and an interest in more than just one thing.

When I’m deep in the chaos of it, I don’t stop to think about how far I’ve come. But when I do, I realise just how much joy there is in what I get to do — creating moments of connection, wonder, and emotion for artists and audiences. I have been lucky to be inspired and encouraged along my journey by teachers, mentors, family and all sorts of people I have met along the way, including many Prior’s Field.

While you may not care about the theatre industry, or already have one thing that is your goal in life, the biggest thing that I have learnt, through both Prior’s Field and my time since, is just give things a go.

Put your name down even if you don’t know anyone else there, turn up, participate, learn something and if it doesn’t work out, try something else. It’s all useful. I would not be where I am if I didn’t grasp every opportunity along the way.

Rebecca has certainly led an extraordinary life, and indeed shows her capability to work both sides of her brain and embrace her many talents. But perhaps one of the most remarkable things about Rebecca is her generous nature. At Prior’s Field, our ethos is that “We live by admiration, hope, and love”, and Rebecca embodies all of these attributes, which make a Prior’s Field girl so special. Rebecca’s extract illustrates a woman who lives a jam-packed life, and is no doubt incredibly busy, yet she takes the time to acknowledge and thank the people and institutions that have helped her along the way when asked to discuss her own success. Moreover, Rebecca has graciously given up much of her time to visit Prior’s Field earlier this year, and once again gave up her time to be a part of Field Notes. We are so proud to call you one of our own Rebecca!

3

JANET HARVEY Janet is defying every stereotype in the book, so if you’re looking for inspiration to take up that new hobby or indeed go back to an old one, look no further than our very own Janet Harvey, who has all the secrets to living life to the fullest!

At the age of 72 I am fortunate to enjoy robust health and keep fit with regular swimming, gym, Barre, and yoga and this year I have taken up ballet again after a 25-year gap!

This is my 15th year working as a guide at Chatsworth in Derbyshire. I absolutely love it, my speciality being guided tours in various languages. Every year we have a different exhibition, based on the arts, the Devonshire collections and beyond, as well as a spectacular themed Christmas display. Last season's exhibition was "Picturing Childhood” portraits and sculptures from ancient times to modern. This year it is flowers in all forms, indoors and in the extensive garden, that are being celebrated. We are lucky to have our daughter to stay with us in London so visit as often as we can, going to historic places, galleries and museums, exhibitions, music recitals and the opera.

I particularly enjoyed the Japanese artists at Dulwich Picture Gallery this year.

72 years young

“Alongside that I continue to indulge my passion for travel.

We visited the Netherlands – more culture – in January and Madeira with its spectacular volcanic scenery and profusion of flowers in March. We spent August in my husband's native Greece – always a joy to catch up with family and friends and practise speaking Greek. In November and December we went to Brazil and Argentina – absolutely stunning. We were glad I could communicate in Spanish. In February it was Mallorca – surprisingly, having been to Spain so many times, my first visit to this lovely island. This year we have mad return trips to Japan, Finland and Paris as well as visiting 22 National Trust properties. I have a lovely life!”

4

BOARDING ADVENTURES I have had the pleasure of hearing about many stories of friendship and sisterhood, as the girls reminisce on their time at Prior’s Field, and certainly much of this bond was formed out of teenage mischief and lighthearted cheekiness. All grown up now, the girls reflect on their memories, cherishing the laughs, love shared, experiences, and indeed naughtiness that made boarding a home away from home.

“My favourite memories are in Fourth Form when we all used to cosy up in the Fourth Form boarding snug room and watch movies together with the whole boarding year nearly and we would always make birthdays so special!

I had a lot of fun at PF boarding and memories I fondly think about regularly. I feel it set me up for going into the big wide world at university and beyond really well to live in my own space and how to make your room feel like your own. I feel very honoured I got to experience boarding in such a positive light and that’s thanks to PF and all the amazing friends I made.”

Jessica Manning (......)

“I have memories of sneaking out of my dorms after lights out to visit friends in other rooms. One night, Miss Crankshaw nearly caught me! She actually touched my face when I was hiding, while she was reaching for the light switch.

Terrifying! I have happy memories of PF. What’s even more special are the sound & special friendships I still have all these years later.”

Lindsay

5

EVELYN’S NETBALL JOURNEY My journey with Netball Northern Ireland began shortly after I left Prior's Field in 2019 when I joined the U17 squad. After a few months of training, we competed at the Europe Netball U17s tournament where I was awarded Player of the Tournament.

Although I have experienced many successes since, this award is still something that I value very highly and was a huge springboard in my self-confidence and drive to continue in this sport. Based on my performance at this tournament, I was invited to join the Northern Ireland Warriors (senior squad) where I received my first Cap in 2021. Over the last few years, I have continued to train hard to develop my skills in order to continue my selections for international test matches, and I now hold 18 Senior Caps. My next major international goals are to fulfil my childhood dreams of competing at the Commonwealth Games 2026 (I was reserve in 2022) and the Netball World Cup 2027! Like any sport, netball doesn't come without its setbacks.

Through the years I have encountered rejections, injuries, and difficult choices. However, the challenges don't define the athlete, but instead how the athlete responds to them. Setbacks are a huge opportunity to demonstrate resilience and grow both as an athlete on court and as a person.

Ultimately, I was selected for the England U17 Europe Netball squad, but after much consideration I chose to represent Northern Ireland. I would not be competing internationally as an NI Warrior had it not been for those rejections which challenged me to see another path forwards and understand that I had other options to achieve my dream of competing internationally.

Currently, I am studying Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Birmingham where I am a scholar under the EDCAP program and compete for the university in BUCS. I also compete in National Premier Division 1 for Weston Park Blades, and I have retained my place with Nottingham Forest in our NXT Gen squad for next season. I continue to train with the NI Warriors and am looking forward to working for selection in our upcoming Celtic Cup competition in November at which NI, Scotland and Wales will compete against the national teams of Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Namibia.

Before I joined NI U17s, I attended three trials for England U17s and was rejected each time. It was incredibly upsetting and difficult to understand why I had not been selected when I had worked so hard to earn a place at these trials. However, this only inspired me to train harder and re-evaluate my goals.

6

Nottingham Forest Netball is a Netball Superleague (NSL) franchise attached to the football club, and I have been a part of the NXT Gen squad since it began in the 2024/25 season. The introduction of the NXT Gen league provides opportunities for athletes that have aged out of the National Performance League (NPL) pathway to remain within franchises in a competitive league. NXT Gen provides a platform for continuing athlete development and experience to feed into the NSL teams. It is incredibly exciting to be a part of this new league. Netball is a rapidly growing and increasingly commercial sport. The launch of NSL 2.0 last season led to games being livestreamed to mainstream channels, significantly increased media attention, larger match playing venues and increased athlete pay. Nottingham Forest Netball is one of eight UK franchises pushing the boundaries of female elite sport, part of a UK strategy to fully professionalise netball within the next decade. My journey as a sportswoman continues to have a profound influence on me, shaping me to be the person that I am. My successes and challenges make me resilient, hard-working, and determined – qualities that are valuable in every part of my life.

Evelyn

It should be noted that while Evelyn is too humble to discuss this in her own article, she has often given up much of her time to come back to Prior’s Field and offer advice and expertise to the girls. Her impact and success in the netball world has inspired many girls, and indeed staff, at Prior’s Field. Evelyn has paved the way for the next generation of young girls, and we are thrilled to announce that Prior’s Field has recently invested a great deal into netball and has recruited ex-international medallist and ex-international medal winning coach Connie Francis to work with our current girls.

7

BEING A TRUE FRIEND For generations, Prior’s Field school has sought to build up the individual, and create well rounded women, and perhaps for many the friendships gained was the greatest gift that Prior’s Field had to give. Indeed, Hails is a stellar example of what it means to be a true friend, uplifting and supporting her dear friend Amanda Mitchell.

“I left PF in 1989, and have remained close friends with Amanda Anstee (now Mitchell) who lives near Edinburgh. She was even my Maid of Honour at my wedding (I live in Canada but visit her often) and I am Godmother to her eldest daughter Holly, now in her 20's.”

Hails and Amanda have shared a beautiful friendship for many years now, having met as mischievous and cheeky schoolgirls, maintaining that friendship throughout life’s great milestones.

Although life has grown difficult in many ways, the pair are still the closest of friends and support system for one another.

Amanda is sadly now battling cancer, and Hails’ remains by Amanda’s side, and just as a true bestie would has emphasised to me the incredible career and life Amanda has. Despite a trial as significant as cancer, Amanda remains a successful businesswoman.

Amanda studied fashion merchandising and is the founder and owner of two beautiful clothing stores called "Biscuit" www.biscuit.clothing. One is in Edinburgh and one is in Glasgow… I should say, I had a peek at the website and it is no wonder Hails is a proud friend, because the clothes are gorgeous!

She won an award when the shop opened for UK's Best Independent Newcomer and I think it would be fun if anyone from PF was visiting Scotland to give these delightful shops a visit. Check out the website and Instagram for yourself...! @biscuit_clothingandliving Amanda's friend, Hayley /Hails Wilson (now Hails Kirker)

8

NEWLYWEDS “Jonny and I were married on 20th June 2025 at Chelsea Registry Office followed by a reception at The Pavilion Club, Knightsbridge.

It was the most beautiful day celebrated with PF old girls, Cara Payne, Liberty Chrismas and Thomasin Dutt.”

Natalie Lambert

VOLUME 003

9

CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF PF FRIENDSHIP AND OUR 60TH BIRTHDAYS Turning 60 gave us the perfect excuse to

We had time to properly talk and enjoy each

celebrate not just a milestone birthday, but

other’s company. As you might imagine, much of

something just as precious – 45 years of

the conversation turned to our PF days, with

friendship, since we left PF.

plenty of boarding school tales, and shared memories of classmates and teachers.

Zanna Buxton (née McCarthy) asked Vanessa Miller (née Lloyd-Jones), Alice Edwards (née

A particularly special touch were the flowering

Lowe), Boo Walker-Munro (née Howman), Jackie

bud cuttings placed in each of our rooms, in

Jasper (née Garnett), Mouse Parkins (née Liddle),

memory of the late Katie Morgan (née Saville). At

Ali Johansen (née Blythe-Brook), and I, Lindsay

her Thanksgiving Service, guests were given

McLoughlin (née Cawston), to her beautiful home

some seeds from one of Katie’s own plants. Ali

in Norfolk for a two-day gathering we’ll always

had then grown & passed a seedling on to Zanna,

remember.

which she had carefully nurtured. Remarkably, Zanna’s plant had flowered for the first time

Based in the very heart of the Norfolk Broads, this

ahead of our visit. The gorgeous cuttings were a

was a wonderful 48-hour escape loaded with

beautiful way to remember Katie in our

beach walks, sea swims, seal spotting, wildlife

celebrations.

safaris and boat trips. We had delicious evening meals and fabulous daytime picnics – and maybe

Thank you so much, Zanna, for bringing us all

a bottle or two of wine! With all of us sharing

together for this unique occasion. I know I speak

happy memories of PF, we were thrilled to be in

for everyone when I say we all loved it.

each other’s company. To spend quality time with friends we have been with and around and in touch with for 45+ years, was truly special.

Wishing everyone in our school year a very happy 60th birthday!

LINDSAY MCLOUGHLIN 10

BREAKING GLASS CEILINGS Stephanie Barker is breaking glass ceilings in the business world, working for ‘King’s Fine Food’, a business led by women. Stephanie works in a small family-run business which is fit for a king – quite literally! Stephanie’s company has enjoyed success insomuch that they are proud holders of the Royal Warrant to His Majesty The King (a distinction which King’s Fine Food are proud to have held also during the reign of Her Late Majesty). Therefore, it is certainly fair to suggest that Stephanie’s endeavours in business have been a royal success.

In true Prior’s Field spirit, beyond the world of business, Stephanie works alongside her company to give back to the community, where she can be seen taking on responsibility to aid the John King Brain Tumour foundation. Indeed, just as she enjoys success in her business endeavours, Stephanie has sought to give back to a project which goes beyond personal gain, having direct involvement with a project that has raised (over) a staggering 1.2 million pounds, with the aid of 10% of the company’s own net profits. Where generosity and financial strategy meet, the results of Stephanie’s charitable work are utterly remarkable and heart-warming and we are proud to have played a small part in shaping Stephanie who has gone on to do accomplish such significant work.

As a woman that does it all, Stephanie has filled her last year with much exciting travel, exploring through the likes of China, Belgium, Italy, and Germany and likewise has sought to explore the UK in greater depth, searching for the best hotels and restaurants on offer.

Alongside travel, work and charity, Stephanie is also in the process of buying her first home, a milestone which is no small feat to navigate alone and in this modern economy. As a community we are so proud of all the work which Stephanie has accomplished and we are immensely grateful for her willingness to share.

Wishing Stephanie and all our lovely Old Girls all the success and happiness in their life post Prior’s Field!

Quote from Stephanie “We are currently funding the construction of a rooftop garden at St George’s Hospital and have recently purchased vital medical equipment that significantly reduces ICU recovery time for children undergoing brain tumour surgery – from six weeks to just two days.”

Stephanie Barker

11

MOTHER KNOWS BEST Sonia Andreeva has embarked on a particularly busy, fulfilling, and innovative past couple of months, having given birth last July and taking the challenges that come alongside motherhood into her own hands. We commend women like Sonia who see a world which is not catered towards a mother, nor a woman’s needs, and takes the initiative to right these wrongs in a positive and empowering way!

“I gave birth to my first child at the end of July last year and seeing at how scarce the natural care products market is for babies I started making my own balms, detergents and care products. A lot of mums I know asked me for samples or even if they could buy some of my products which compelled me to start my own business selling natural and organic care products for babies.”

Sonia Andreeva www.thebalmco.co.uk

12

FROM BROADCASTING TO BREATHWORK After decades as a BBC journalist and communications consultant, helping others find their voice, I began to sense another kind of voice calling – a quieter one. A whisper from within.

During lockdown I stumbled across Qigong and from that moment everything changed. I was hooked by its quiet magic.

Qigong (pronounced “chee-gong”) is an ancient Chinese practice of gentle movement, breath and awareness that supports physical, emotional and energetic wellbeing. I turned to it to manage stress and stiffness and to reconnect with myself – but it quickly became something more. The more I learned and practised, the more I felt calm, grounded, resilient, and deeply rooted in my body and the world around me.

After PF, I moved to London but returned to the Surrey Hills when my kids were small. My daughter, Rosie Squire, is also an Old Girl and working mother of two gorgeous little ones!

Alongside being a doting Granny and my regular consultancy work, I’m also a 300-hour certified Qigong instructor. I run weekly classes, seasonal workshops and collaborative retreats with other local business owners in my Surrey Hills Enterprises business network.

Qigong means “cultivating life energy” – and that’s exactly what it feels like. Unlike more strenuous exercise, Qigong is about gentle nourishment, not pushing. It improves balance, flexibility, and vitality, while helping to ease anxiety and quieten a busy mind. It’s accessible, kind on the body, and suitable for all ages and fitness levels. My Saturday morning classes at the Harry Edwards Healing Centre in Shere are open to everyone, and I also offer 1:1s, workplace sessions and small group workshops.

If you’re curious, I’d love to hear from you and welcome you to a class.

With warm wishes from one Old Girl to another, Sue Llewellyn 1973–1977

13

BEING ENOUGH My initial reaction was “ I haven’t achieved anything of merit in the last year”, not something that would be interesting to the readers but then I got annoyed with myself and thought I have achieved a lot! It may not be success in business or gaining new qualifications, but I have started to recognise achievement in the small things I accomplish every day.

I’m sure many women in their 50’s and 60’s would relate to this feeling of ’not enough’ or ‘invisible’ but when I think of the day-to-day things women achieve in running homes, managing jobs, studying, caring for elderly parents and even baby sitting grandchildren, it's much more than a full-time job!

Certainly, in the last year I have achieved a great many things that I wrongly assume are not valued.

Following the death of my sister a few years back (she was also a Prior’s Field Girl) and then the death of my mother, I have become well versed in Probate, IHT, accounting and administrating Wills and Wishes. Later on my Father needed a live-in carer and assistance with the day-to-day management of his business affairs.

Many of us will recognise how challenging it is to persuade an older parent that they need help and support from an outsider.

Reluctantly we took the decision to move my father into a care home, we spent many hours searching for the right one and luckily when the time came they had space for him. The first few months were horrendous, he went rapidly down hill and would not leave his room or eat. I cannot describe the guilt and worry and the endless trips to the care home, a move that was meant to make our lives easier suddenly became even harder. Something I now understand is very common.

Throughout this, I was supported by my husband Giles.

Luckily, after four months he has finally turned a corner and has settled in and is up and about enjoying his new environment. This has allowed me to turn my attention back to my own business.

Many of my female friends are in the same position, supporting elderly parents who wish to stay in their own homes or racing back and forth to hospitals, sitting for hours in A&E, you need patience and resilience for both.

So my question is does this qualify as something worth celebrating? Yes is my response, very much so.

I have learnt and achieved a huge amount and continue to learn on a daily basis, not easy to measure but nonetheless a success.

Nicole De Young

14

THE POWER OF REINVENTION FROM UNCERTAINTY TO OPPORTUNITY Disclaimer: the following article will be discussing the topic of mental health issues and self-harm. If you will find this triggering, please skip ahead to the next feature. Furthermore, we have added some links for support, and for those who would like to learn more.

If you’d asked me on my last day at Priors Field where I’d end up, I certainly wouldn’t have predicted this.

Like so many of us, I left school with no grand plan, just a vague hope that some form of a path would eventually appear.

So, instead of spending summers on holiday, I threw myself into intensive courses in anatomy and physiology, learning both the technical skills and the emotional intelligence needed to support people at some of their most vulnerable moments, whether after mastectomies, burns, or living with scars.

It didn't for a while, so after a series of extremely uninspiring summer jobs, I found myself at the Surrey Advertiser where I stayed for a few years. Then (and mostly by accident) I stumbled into the world of tech, what followed was a whirlwind twenty years in software, major projects, and even a stint in New York. It was fastpaced, demanding, and often very stressful.

Throughout it all, one obsession remained: skincare.

While colleagues devoured technical journals, I was poring over articles about skin rejuvenation, burns, and the science of scar repair. The idea of becoming a reconstructive surgeon had tugged at me for years, but the reality of fifteen years’ retraining made it unfeasible at that point.

The decision to give this new path a real chance was a leap. But I knew I’d rather regret trying than spend the rest of my life wondering ‘what if’. Changing careers in my forties was terrifying but I figured the worst case was that I could always return to tech.

Every so often, I tried to find a route that would let me combine this fascination with a workable career. But once you have a mortgage and real responsibilities, starting again, financially and professionally, is daunting. I was absolutely ready for hard work, but the path wasn’t obvious. Eventually, I found an article about medical tattooing; a field that didn’t require a decade of medical school, but demanded real commitment.

The Stigma of Scars One area became unexpectedly central to me: supporting people with self-harm scars. This work quickly moved from ‘service’ to ‘mission’. We even set up a subsidised scheme to make treatment accessible to those who needed it most.

The early years were challenging. There was no social media to publicise my work—just word of mouth, trust, and a lot of patience which was not always easy, especially when you’re bootstrapping financially. But, bit by bit, my client base grew. I invested in advanced training, expanding into anti-ageing treatments and permanent makeup, and, over the years developed a thriving clinic in Notting Hill.

It’s deeply rewarding, but can often be confronting.

Many clients came to us after being dismissed or made to feel ashamed elsewhere.

15

Disclaimer: the following article will be discussing the topic of mental health issues and self-harm. If you will find this triggering, please skip ahead to the next feature. Furthermore, we have added some links for support, and for those who would like to learn more.

The stigma around self-harm scars is both real and unjust with most self-harm happening between the ages of 13 and 17, when hormones are raging, identity is fragile, and school can be a minefield, even before you add family or mental health struggles.

I often ask people to imagine the most reckless or stupid thing they did as a teenager, then picture it written on their body for all to see. The person who self-harmed may feel like a stranger now, but the scars remain, often affecting relationships, careers, and self-esteem long after the original crisis has passed.

Our aim was to create a different kind of clinic: focusing on an informal, non-judgemental, and safe space where people could tall (or not) about their scars without fear or shame. Self-harm transcends financial background, ethnicity, and religion. What unites our patients is a desire to move forward, regain confidence, and live without constant judgement.

Things are slowly improving. Mental health awareness has progressed significantly in the past five years, and younger generations are far more willing to seek help and talk about their mental health. Yet, stigma persists, this was especially prevalent during the Covid years, when we saw a sharp rise in cases, often among adults who never expected to need support.

It’s a privilege to be part of someone’s journey as they regain their confidence, sometimes just by helping them feel able to wear short sleeves again or show their arms or legs in summer. This is the heart of what we do, and I’m proud that we are able to offer practical, positive solutions.

It’s Never Too Late to Change If there’s one message I’d give to my teenage self, or anyone who feels boxed in by their personal or career choices, it’s that reinvention is always possible. Life doesn’t follow a straight line, and sometimes the next step only appears after difficulty or when you’re brave enough to begin again. You’ll absolutely make mistakes and lots of them, but not trying is perhaps the biggest mistake of all.

Natasha Borciani

Help and support is available right now if you need it. You do not have to struggle with difficult feelings alone.

Phone a helpline. These free helplines are there to help when you're feeling down or desperate. Unless it says otherwise, they're open 24 hours a day, every day.

You can also call these helplines for advice if you're worried about someone else.

Information: NHS 111 – (24 hours every day) Samaritans – 116 123 Papyrus, Prevention of young suicide – 0800 068 41 41 SOS, Silence of Suicide – 0800 115 1505 (8pm to midnight Monday to Friday, 4pm to midnight Saturday and Sunday) Websites specific to this article: https://borcianilondon.com/self-harm-scars/ https://borcianilondon.com/scar-treatments/selfharm-scar-treatment/ https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-ofmental-health-problems/self-harm/treatment-andsupport-for-self-harm/

16

Findingaway throughthe pandemic After Seven years at Prior’s field, my time was ended abruptly due to the pandemic. I left unsure about what I wanted to do career wise. I always knew I wanted to work with people, although I wasn’t sure where that would be.

Like many others, I had plans which were cancelled due to the pandemic. However, I was fortunate enough to get a job at St Luke’s Cancer Centre at the Royal Surrey County Hospital which is where my love for nursing began. This led to me training as a Nurse at Winchester University, where I spent many placement hours in healthcare settings around Hampshire.

After finishing University, my boyfriend, Jamie and I travelled around Europe starting off in Berlin and finishing our trip in northern Italy. My favourite places we went to were Salzburg and Lake Bled. We also managed to unexpectedly time our visit to Salzburg with St Rupert’s day which was a highlight! Following our trip, I travelled around Morocco with my dad, a very different experience to Europe!

A moment I’ll never forget was riding a camel across the Sahara Desert and going on a boat at the bottom of Ouzoud Waterfalls.

Fast forward to now, I have been a registered nurse for nearly a year and working for the NHS for five years. Although I spent time in other fields of healthcare, my love for oncology never faded.

I currently live in Winchester with Jamie and am a chemotherapy nurse at Winchester Hospital. The oncology department there, in my eyes, is one big family. We are there for patients and their families in their brightest and darkest moments. I absolutely love my job and wouldn’t change it for the world. I look forward to starting my Systemic AntiCancer Therapy course in September and plan my next trip abroad!

Hazel Marshall

17

Editor’s Note It has been both an honour and a privilege to take on the role of Editor in this year’s edition of Field Notes. Upon taking on this role, I began to organise the project as I would with any other. I planned to produce a magazine, which would be neatly organised by themes. I had hoped to cover a plethora of topics using the stories of girls who met the criteria of these specific categories. However, my search for formal articles celebrating achievements was instead met by the stories of real, and indeed incredible women. I have learnt much about Prior’s Field from the women that have sought to shape the incredible school that it is today.

A Prior’s Field girl is multifaceted; a Prior’s Field girl cannot be neatly tucked away into a singular category of smart, or athletic, or charitable because they are all of these things. I have been blown away by the achievements of our wonderful alumnae, but a feature which has really stood out to me is the charitable nature of our girls. It was truly humbling to hear amongst all the many worldly achievements, so many girls have sought to serve others, whether it be through fundraising, acts of service, and indeed for many of our busy and high-flying girls, giving up their precious time to do good in both the Prior’s Field and wider community. Our motto at Prior’s Field is that “We live by admiration, hope, and love”, and I hope that reading the articles and sharing in the stories of our girls you too will see these values shine through.

Therefore, on that note, I should like to offer my thanks and congratulations to our alumnae and sign off with admiration, hope, and love.

Madeline Shell

18

F

ield Notes 2025