The Dove Issue 4: Summer 2023

The Interview: Nikki Hughes

SEE PAGE 12

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Elsie Bowerman

2022-2023 Seniors’ Mentoring Programme

Supporting Careers

Education at Wycombe

Welcome from the Headmistress

This year has seen many successes and some challenges for the School, which have only served to highlight the importance of our community.

The start of the academic year was marked by the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, which we acknowledged through a series of Chapel services before resuming our usual programme of Autumn Term activities. We faced the tragedy of a pupil death at the start of the Summer Term and I am grateful for the kindness and support that has been shown by everyone at this difficult time for the School.

I was delighted to see the Big School refurbishment completed in October, a project which was made possible by the generosity of a Senior, Mrs Patricia Thompson (Henchley, C88, Campbell, 1958). The space is beautiful and looked wonderfully festive when we hosted the Seniors’ Carol Service in December.

Many conferences and talks have been held at Wycombe Abbey this year and it has been a pleasure to welcome Seniors back to School to take part in a range of events; you continue to be an inspiration to our pupils. Seniors who have spoken this year include Professor Dame Sarah Springman (C128, Rubens, 1974) Principal at St Hilda’s College Oxford, Soma Sara (C306, Barry, 2017) Founder of Everyone’s Invited. Catherine Wyman (C291, Wendover, 2014) also spoke in her role as Head of Eyecare at The Technology Partnership at the Lower Sixth Management Conference in March.

to share with you that two Seniors, Sarah Judd (Morton, C200, Rubens, 1996) and Dame Juliet May (C139, Shelburne, 1978), have recently joined the School’s Governing Council, which you can read more about in this issue.

Seniors’ Day in June was another wonderful occasion and provided the perfect opportunity for Seniors to reconnect and reminisce as well as to meet with current pupils and staff to hear about life at Wycombe Abbey today.

Seniors’ Day in June was another wonderful occasion and provided the perfect opportunity for Seniors to reconnect and reminisce.

We are continuing to make excellent progress on implementing the School’s Strategic Direction. From an estates point of view, the first stage of works on the Performing Arts Centre will begin over the summer and we look forward to seeing it finished in the Autumn Term. We have worked hard on our vision for the Innovation and Design Centre (IDC) and the building is a statement of our intention to prepare girls for a rapidly changing world which will require agile thinking, problem-solving and creativity. There is much discussion about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how we can use it positively in education. We are also planning on building a new Junior House for our youngest girls; the designs are looking very exciting and more information will be available on both projects in due course.

Our international provision continues to expand and, over the next academic year, we will focus on developing our relationships with our existing international schools and potential new partners to grow our global community.

The School was delighted to hear the news that Wycombe Abbey Senior and former Council member Dame Sue Carr (C151, Barry, 1982) has been appointed as the next Lord Chief Justice - the first woman to hold the post since its inception in 1268. This is an historic moment and we send our warmest congratulations to Sue. I am also pleased

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of The Dove. I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming year.

Jo Duncan MA (St Andrews) PGCE (Cantab) Headmistress

Welcome from the Seniors’ Consultative Committee

Welcome to this year’s edition of The Dove

Iwould particularly like to welcome our newest Seniors, the class of 2023, and wish them well for their gap years and university.

The role of the Seniors’ Consultative Committee (SCC) is to provide a link between the Seniors and the School, and to work with the Development and Seniors’ Office. The aim of the Committee is to promote and support the wide range of events and activities that take place for Seniors and with the girls from purely social gatherings to targeted career forums. We meet both online and in school and with our wide range of skills and experience we seek to represent Seniors of all ages both here and overseas. Thank you to my fellow committee members for all their help and support over the last year.

My thanks go also to Mrs Duncan and the Development and Seniors’ Office for their support, and for organising so many varied Seniors events. With their expertise and commitment, we have seen the engagement of Seniors continue to rise. Our warm welcome goes to Mrs Niki Kilminster who joined the School as the Alumnae Relations Officer last December. Alongside this is a heartfelt thank you to Ms Clare Flynn-Scarcelli who has recently stepped down as the Director of Development and External Relations.

This year has already seen an increase in Seniors’ reunions both in the UK and overseas. In addition, more Seniors have given their time and shared their expertise and experiences with current pupils, providing valuable insights into their careers and achievements. Thank you to all of you who have supported events this year. The Sixth Form Mentoring Programme is going from strength to strength; please do sign in to the Seniors’ Connect website wycombeabbeyseniors.com and register your interest if you would like to join. You can also register to connect with fellow Seniors and receive information about all upcoming events.

Highlights of the year so far included seeing the beautifully refurbished Big School full of Seniors before the Carol Service, the Wycombe Abbey Orchestral Concert at St Mary’s Church Marylebone in February and hearing from the Upper Sixth about how much they value the mentoring programme.

The committee would welcome your ideas for events and fresh ways to support the Seniors and the School. Please do get in touch with me or Niki Kilminster at seniors@wycombeabbey.com if you have an idea, an event you would like us to organise or you would like to join the Committee.

Through the Seniors’ community I hope that we will continue to benefit from and have the opportunity to support everything that Wycombe Abbey has to offer to current pupils and to us as Seniors.

Mrs Felicity Conway (Harris, C160, Wendover, 1986) Chair of the Seniors’ Consultative Committee

Welcome from the Seniors’ Office

It has been eight months since I became the Alumnae Relations Officer and already I can see how much of a community it is here at Wycombe Abbey and I feel very honoured to be a part of it.

It is also heartening to see how important the Seniors are to the School community and this is evident in the ways in which School offers Seniors many opportunities to stay connected and engaged with Wycombe Abbey life, such as through the successful Mentoring Programme, Tycoon Enterprise and coming back to School to speak to pupils on a range of topics, particularly in relation to careers.

Attending Seniors’ events shows that Wycombe Abbey and the experiences and relationships you forged during your time here are just as important to you and many other Seniors. Events like Seniors’ Day and the Seniors’ Carol Service allow you to meet up with friends, reconnect with those you have lost touch with and make new connections. You all share that one connection, which is your love for Wycombe Abbey.

It is essential for us to keep the Seniors’ community thriving and connected to one another. In addition to the two main Seniors’ events, we will look to host year group reunions as well as introducing a drinks event in London in September. We are also encouraging Seniors living in other countries to connect, which we saw this year with a reunion in Singapore and two drinks receptions in Hong Kong.

It is not always easy for everyone to come together at events, but as we now live in a digital age it can be easier to keep in touch with the Seniors’ community through social media and in particular the Seniors’ Connect website. Seniors’ Connect is a platform to connect with each other and keep updated with School, alumnae news and events. It provides the opportunity to network and connect personally and professionally, utilising the unique and strong community network of Wycombe Abbey women. If you have not already signed up to the platform please do so and if you have, it would be wonderful to see your news or memories posted there.

We also hope you consider supporting the School through our Annual Fund or the Dove-Bowerman Society, which recognises those who have pledged to leave a legacy to the School. Philanthropic support from Seniors ensures that the next generation of pioneering women also receive exceptional opportunities.

I look forward to getting to know you more in my role as Seniors’ Officer and please do stay in touch and send me any news, stories or memories via seniors@wycombeabbey.com

Mrs Niki Kilminster Alumnae Relations Officer

In February we were delighted to launch We Are Connected, a new film celebrating our Seniors community. Wycombe Abbey is extremely proud of its Seniors and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued engagement with the School and for enriching the lives of current pupils.

Upcoming Events

Drinks Reception London

Coming soon - another chance to network and reconnect with a new, evening drinks event

Save the date for two wonderful Seniors’ events happening later this year.

Seniors’ Carol Service, Wycombe Abbey

Join us for this annual festive event on Sunday 10 December, 4:00pm.

More details on both events will be available soon.

Clarence Leavers

We were delighted to attend the Clarence Leavers Ceremony at the end of April and welcome our Sixth Form Leavers to the Wycombe Abbey Seniors community as the Class of 2023. The girls had great fun posing with our special Clarence Leavers selfie frame as well as enjoying a wonderful evening of dinner and dancing!

We wish them all the best of luck with their A level exam results and for their futures beyond Wycombe Abbey. We look forward to keeping in touch with them!

Cresta Run

It is very exciting to see women, and among them, several Wycombe Abbey Seniors, taking part and competing again on the world-famous Cresta Run – a natural ice skeleton racing toboggan track, recreated annually since 1885 in St Moritz, Switzerland, on which riders achieve speeds of up to and over 70 miles per hour.

Whilst several brave women had ridden the Cresta Run in its early days, including Lorna Robertson (later Lady Laura Fairburn) who was the first woman to earn her colours and come in the first eight in a major race; in the 1920s it was decided that women could no longer ride for safety reasons. The rule banning women from competing on the Cresta Run was not repealed until 2017.

In the 2022 – 2023 season just finished, women really came into their own at the Cresta, with Wycombe women playing a strong part. Senior Alexandra Bott (C255, Cloister, 2007), who comes from a longstanding and distinguished Cresta family, has been riding for several seasons and confidently beat her own best times this year. Eleanor Livingstone (C353, Rubens, 2022) paid a brief visit from university and took to riding the Cresta with

Singapore Reunion

Alice Lloyd (C353, Rubens, 2022) became the first ever Tower Girl (previously this has been a role only assigned to young men). Over the season, Alice took the opportunity to ride the Cresta as much as possible eventually joining the riding elite by becoming the 12th woman to ride from Top in the modern era and on the penultimate day of the season, chasing the leading woman in the Lorna Robertson Cup from Junction, coming in second place by only 8/100ths of a second.

We are very proud of our Wycombe Abbey Seniors who are making history as female competitors in the Cresta Run.

The Singapore Seniors recently had their first reunion after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The group gathered at Amano, a cosy neighbourhood Italian restaurant, indulging in a spread of pizza and pasta (and just a little wine).

The joy of meeting in person after a long time was palpable, and everyone appreciated the opportunity to connect with old friends and make new ones. There was a wide representation of ages – women from across four decades in the Classes of 1986 all the way to 2022! Yet conversations flowed freely, making it clear that despite age differences and time apart, the bonds that Wycombe girls share are still as strong as ever. We were thrilled to be able to enjoy each other’s company again, and look forward to the next catch-up. If you’d like to stay posted on news of future events in Singapore, please email Jennifer Hung (jennifir@gmail.com) or Stephanie Cheah (svltcheah@hotmail.com)

Chloe Fangiono (C355, Wendover, 2022)

aplomb. Delphi Primrose (C347, Airlie, 2022) worked in the shop at the Cresta Run and learned to ride the Cresta for the first time this season.

Seniors’ Day 2023

We had a wonderful day in June for the 2023 Seniors’ Day! It was a pleasure to meet so many Seniors and Honorary Seniors and hear such lovely stories and memories.

There will be a full write up of the event in the Seniors’ Supplement magazine in December but for now, we’re delighted to share with you the photos that were taken on the day by Toby Phillips Photography.

Please click the link below and follow the instructions to view the gallery. There is also the option to purchase photos should you wish to.

Once you have clicked on the link, follow these instructions:

• Click ‘Enter as a Guest’

2022-2023 Seniors’ Mentoring Programme

For the last two years we have run a successful mentoring programme where a Senior is matched with an Upper Sixth pupil to share experiences and give useful advice regarding her university and career goals. The programme takes place during timetabled sessions within the Carrington Award, our award-winning Sixth Form enrichment programme designed to help pupils prepare for the broader challenges of life and work beyond school.

This year, we had 28 partnerships with mentors from industries such as Medicine, Film, Law, Finance, Science and Music. Mentors met with their mentees online throughout the year to identify and work towards their goals, whilst sharing advice and their own experiences on entering higher education and the workplace.

We recently completed this year’s programme and received positive feedback from both mentors and mentees who found it valuable and enjoyable.

‘It was lovely to get to know the youth of today going into the arts and entertainment world and getting a chance to help guide and inform from my experiences in order to hopefully give them a boost. If there is anything I can do to help or be there for someone it is beyond beautiful to do so. I truly loved empowering my mentee, getting to know her and welcoming her into the arts family. It was an invaluable opportunity to let her know that she now has people she can go to and trust whenever she needs, and for me to stay informed and connected to the new generation of artists.’

Zoe Anastassiou (C212, Campbell, 1999)

‘My mentor provided useful insight into university life, graduate jobs/schemes, and her experience as a woman in a male-dominated field. It was useful to hear from someone only a few years older as she had up-to-date advice for the industry I plan to go into and had very recently graduated with the degree I am planning to study at university. I could not recommend this programme enough; I really enjoyed my mentoring sessions and now have an invaluable relationship with my mentor, who is so lovely!’

Sharen Chu (C356, Airlie, 2023)

If you are interested in becoming a mentor and sharing your experience and skills, please register your interest on the Seniors’ Connect website by selecting the ‘Offering Mentoring’ check box.

Elsie Bowerman

Elsie Bowerman (Circle L, Cloister, 1906) was a key figure in the history of the School. She joined at age 11 in 1901, shortly after the School was opened. Her education at Wycombe Abbey prepared her for a life of achievements and Elsie’s influence extends far beyond the School.

Social historian, Martin Williams, has explored Elsie’s pioneering work in Edwardian England in his new book, The King is Dead, Long Live the King! Elsie was a key figure of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), which campaigned for women’s suffrage. She travelled the world campaigning for equal rights, and it was on a trip to the Midwest of America that Elsie and her mother survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.

She became the first female barrister at the Old Bailey in 1924 and helped establish the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in 1947. Despite travelling the world and campaigning for equal rights for all, Elsie remained devoted to Wycombe Abbey and continued to be involved with the School. Williams writes that Elsie was ‘the embodiment of the principles of self-reliance and public service expounded by Frances Dove.’

Williams’ description of Elsie’s experience at Wycombe Abbey is remarkably similar to how many current pupils describe their time at the School. This is a fantastic connection to the School’s heritage which we can still see in daily life today.

‘Elsie loved every minute of her time at Wycombe Abbey. She relished its communal routines and rituals and threw herself with gusto into the packed programme of lessons and games. Her classmates became her surrogate family. Inspired by Dove’s ethos of ‘corporate values’, she grew into a confident, motivated and boundlessly energetic young woman who retained an open-minded innocence that led her to not only embrace but actively seek out fresh challenges.’

Elsie held fond memories of her time at Wycombe Abbey and wrote Stands There a School: Memories of Dame Frances Dove in 1965. Her legacy still lives on after her death in 1973. The Dove-Bowerman Society recognises the benefaction of those who have made provision of a gift to the School in their will, as Elsie did.

It is fantastic to see Elsie’s life and work being recognised in Williams’ book. It is clear that she had a wide-reaching impact not only on women’s rights but on civil advancement globally.

She became the first female barrister at the Old Bailey in 1924 and helped establish the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in 1947.

Council Appointments

We are pleased to announce that two Seniors, Sarah Judd (Morton, C200, Rubens, 1996) and Dame Juliet May (C139, Shelburne, 1978), have been appointed to the School’s Governing Council.

Sarah read Geography at Durham University followed by a postgraduate diploma in law. She has practised as a solicitor in London for almost 20 years having trained and practised at Norton Rose, followed by Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. Sarah is currently Associate General Counsel at Shell International Limited and has served as a board member of several Shell UK entities. She also spent seven years as director of a UK charity focusing on the importance of nutrition and in particular, the impact of nutrition on life outcomes

in schools, young offender institutions and prisons. Sarah is passionate about girls’ education and its role in ensuring they are best prepared to thrive and fulfil in the modern world. Sarah is married with two daughters and two sons. She spent six years boarding at Wycombe Abbey having joined from a state-maintained school in nearby Marlow.

Juliet graduated in PPP (Psychology, Physiology and Philosophy) from Wadham College, Oxford in 1982 and went on to receive an MPhil

(Clinical Psychology) from the Institute of Psychiatry in London. After working in the NHS as a clinical psychologist for some years she diverted into law. She practised as a barrister from commercial chambers, taking silk in 2008 and being appointed as a Circuit Judge in the same year. In 2015 she was appointed as a High Court Judge in the Queen’s (now King’s) Bench Division, where she sits on a wide range of cases from serious crime to judicial review of government action. Juliet’s three daughters are also Seniors.

20-Year Reunion

On a lovely summer’s afternoon on 3 June 2023, we celebrated the 20 year reunion for the Class of 2003.

Hard to believe time has flown by so fast but it was wonderful to see each other after so long! What started out as an informal chat group on WhatsApp, quickly grew into a joyous reunion with Seniors coming from India, USA, Malaysia (me!) and of course around the UK.

Around 30 Seniors attended and many of us continued on through dinner. The Seniors’ Office was kind enough to provide Wycombe Abbey merchandise for the event; many thanks to Niki (Seniors’ Officer) for organising the delivery of 30 cuddly bears! We are now all looking forward to a more formal reunion later in the year which will hopefully deliver a larger turnout!

Azura Safiyuddeen (C233, Campbell, 2003)

Dame Sue Carr

Wycombe Abbey Senior, Dame Sue Carr, named as the new Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales

We are delighted to hear that Wycombe Abbey Senior Dame Sue Carr (C151, Barry, 1982) has been appointed as the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales – the first woman ever to hold the position.

Headmistress, Mrs Jo Duncan said, ‘This is a historic moment and an impressive achievement. We warmly congratulate Sue and wish her every success!’

With an illustrious career in Law, Sue was appointed to the Court of Appeal of England and Wales in 2019. Sue has been, and still is, a very engaged member of the Wycombe Abbey community, giving her time to mentor Sixth Form pupils as part of our Carrington Mentor Programme and also serving as a Governing Council Member for 13 years.

In 2020, Dame Sue Carr sat down with the Seniors’ Office for an interview that was featured in the Seniors’ Supplement magazine that year.

Nikki Hughes

Nikki (C249, Rubens, 2006) went on to study for a BA in Physiology, Psychology and Philosophy, an MSc in International Relations and Modern Languages, and an MBA, alongside competing for England and Great Britain in wheelchair athletics. She now lives in Dublin with her husband and works for Six Nations Rugby Ltd. She has been a member of Council since 2021 and is particularly committed to supporting the growth of Wycombe Abbey’s bursary offering.

Please give us a brief outline of your career so far.

After graduating I was lucky enough to secure an internship in the Commercial team at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This opened my eyes to the breadth of careers available in sport, and since then I’ve had the chance to travel the world working for Tough Mudder, Liverpool FC, The Premier League, England Rugby and now Six Nations Rugby. As Head of Business Development and Partnerships I’m responsible for agreeing sponsorship and broadcast deals for the Six Nations and all other test rugby matches in France, Italy, the UK, and the Republic of Ireland; and for managing the team that looks after our day-to-day sponsor management, retail operations and merchandising.

Is there something from your career which reflects your personal values and what you wanted to achieve in life?

Getting the Women’s Six Nations and Premier 15s (England’s domestic women’s rugby league) onto BBC2 was a proud moment for me. I’m not sure fans realise the cost associated with broadcasting sport when they’re maligning broadcasters and sports organisations for not putting women’s matches on TV - it took real partnership and commitment to the goal of giving women equal exposure for us to get this deal in place. Now we have millions of viewers watching the Women’s Six Nations, and hopefully this will lead to more little girls and young women realising they can be a professional athlete in whatever sport they choose.

During your time at School, did you know what you wanted to do as a career?

I was convinced I wanted to be a vet, but after visiting several universities I set my heart on Oxford, which didn’t offer vet sciences. My commitment to animal medicine obviously wasn’t that strong - I switched my focus to Psychology just in time for the UCAS applications!

What role did your school education play in preparing you for your future?

It goes without saying that Wycombe opened doors for me – without the incredible wrap-around educational and pastoral support provided I would never have made it to Oxford and met

the woman who gave me that first internship that kickstarted my career. However, the most valuable assets I took away from school are the soft skills and attributes I didn’t even realise I was developing – like resilience, independence, confidence in my ideas, public speaking and presentation skills, and the ability to find common ground with anyone I’m put in a room with (much to my colleagues’ amusement).

Your spine was broken as the result of a car crash back in 2008. Did this have any effect on your career or personal goals and how did you adapt them?

Absolutely! I would highly likely have followed the classic Wycombe –Oxbridge – Finance career path had I not broken my back and become a wheelchair user. It sounds very cliché, but having such a major accident gave me the chance to reset during my ten weeks in hospital, and to think about what I really wanted to do. That turned out to be both competing in and working in sport, and pursuing my interest in psychology through studying and volunteering.

I now make sure to check in with myself every so often and make sure I’m not once again blindly following a path that

doesn’t align with my goals and values. In 2018 this led to the decision to retire from athletics so my now-husband and I could travel to places we actually wanted to visit (rather than whatever country was hosting the next race); and I could focus on my career without having to fit training in twice a day around a full-time job.

Getting the Women’s Six Nations and Premier 15s (England’s domestic women’s rugby league) onto BBC2 was a proud moment for me.

How did it feel to represent your country in wheelchair track racing and marathons at World Championships and the Commonwealth Games?

Even after ten years of practice, track racing at international level never felt anything short of terrifying - from the moment the camera panned across to

introduce us on the start line I would wish I’d never agreed to take part! Marathons were a different story though. Wheelchair road racing is quite like road cycling, in that we’d form a peloton and work as a team for most of the race until there was an opportunity to break away, usually towards the final 20km. Because of this, the bond between competitors is very strong and we’d be far more focused on our collective and individual strategies as we waited for the gun than on the pressure from the crowds and TV cameras. I always preferred training to racing, and marathons often felt like a hard training session with an unusually high number of spectators. I was therefore much more able to enjoy the experience and feel proud to have earned my team vest on the road than on the track.

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

From a professional point-of-view, probably Cadbury putting the chocolate Premier League lion’s heads I pitched to them as part of our sponsorship deal into production around the world. I still have a very stale packet on display in my office!

Where have your sources of inspiration come from in your life?

Another cliché coming up… my parents are a real inspiration. The way my mum coped with me sustaining such a life-altering injury was nothing short of incredible and taught me how to behave in the face of adversity. And my dad negotiated hostage releases for the UN before he retired, so of course he never batted an eyelid at my unusual career choices! He also inspired my love of taking on physical challenges and determination never to give up however much every muscle hurts.

You are currently a member of the Governing Council; why is that important to you?

As a member of Council, I feel incredibly privileged to get an inside view into how School operates and to have the opportunity to provide (relatively) objective input into everything from year-group specific pastoral care adjustments to big strategic projects like the Estates Masterplan.

I say ‘relatively’ because I also believe (rightly or wrongly) that as a Senior I have a responsibility to try and maintain

the ethos of Wycombe as the school expands and develops at an incredible pace, both on-site in Buckinghamshire and through our growing family of international schools. Wycombe Abbey is, and (I understand from the other Seniors on Council) has always been, a special place full of idiosyncrasies. Some of those no longer have a place in a modern boarding school, such as dorms with 11 beds and easily accessible former military bunkers; others, like our unique approach to The Charterhouse Carol, are harmless traditions that bring together current and former pupils to create a community of women who, I hope, will always have each other’s backs out in the real world just as they did at School.

What were your passions and interests at Wycombe Abbey?

This won’t come as a surprise by now – sport!

What is one of your most favourite memories from being at Wycombe Abbey?

Wednesday night pasta bake and Desperates cake in Clarence.

What do you think makes the Wycombe Abbey Seniors’ community special?

There’s something about a boarding school, and perhaps particularly an all-girls boarding school, that creates lasting bonds between friends who effectively grew up as siblings. However far apart we are in distance and however different our lives are now, I know my Wycombe Abbey girls will always be there for me –and vice versa.

When I broke my back, it wasn’t only my friends from School who camped out at the hospital to keep me company every day and help me get through the whole ordeal (which I wouldn’t have coped without). It was also my teachers who came from all over the country to lend support and that inimitable Housemistress’ ear when I was at my lowest points. Since joining Council and the Seniors Mentoring Programme, I’ve been really pleased to see that this unwavering support doesn’t only apply to Seniors and Honorary Seniors who were at Wycombe together. It seems to permeate the entire community and create a support network that is drawn on by everyone from current

pupils looking for career advice to women relocating to new countries hoping for connections when they land.

There’s something about a boarding school, and perhaps particularly an all-girls boarding school, that creates lasting bonds between friends.

What advice would you like to pass along to current pupils?

Make the most of the Wycombe Abbey bubble while you have it, but don’t long for it once you leave. I’m a prime example of how life after Wycombe doesn’t always go to plan, but if you have the confidence to make the most of every opportunity and always look to challenge yourself and find the next adventure you won’t go far wrong – and you’ll always have the Wycombe Abbey community to help you find your way.

Arianna Radji Lee

Arianna (C242, Barry, 2005) is an event producer, community leader and activist for women’s health and wellbeing.

After working in corporate events and as a fitness coach, Arianna saw the value of expert knowledge, the importance of community and the attention in prioritising women’s health. She spotted the acute need for a more modern, mother-focused approach to postnatal care, before becoming a mother herself.

Her business, Pachamama, provides a centralised community for new and expecting mothers to gain access to expert content and to feel supported throughout one of the most significant transitions of their lives.

A born and bred Londoner with Persian heritage, Arianna lives in North West London with her husband and their one-year-old son.

Please give us a brief outline of your career so far.

My career has always been rooted around people and community. After university I embarked on a series of internships at the United Nations, Skype and Apple where I fell into, and in love with, organising events. I then landed my first full-time gig at a B2B trend forecasting and marketing insights company called Contagious where I learnt everything from event production and marketing, to strategic commercialisation and global expansion, ending up as their Director of Events after only five years.

I then decided to go freelance to pursue other passions, including travelling and fitness. Freelancing gave me the flexibility to become a spin instructor and I learnt about the importance of health, wellbeing and community and how these interlink.

Arianna saw the value of expert knowledge, the importance of community and the attention in prioritising women’s health.

It was through the lens of my unique experience of events and women’s health and fitness that I spotted an opportunity to set up my own events and community-based business to support women throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. I launched this new business just before Covid-19 and called it Pachamama.

Having stepped back from Pachamama earlier this year (March 2023), I am currently freelancing as an event producer and community leader for varying clients, whilst advocating for maternity rights through volunteer work alongside the NHS.

What led you to set up Pachamama?

The idea for the business was sparked back in 2018, when I was a spin instructor. I had a lot of regular riders who recently became mothers and were asking for support when coming back to their fitness routine after birth. Whilst the world of babies and motherhood was totally new to me at that time, it felt important to me to create a space to support their needs. So I set off with the initial idea to create a fitness studio with a crèche and access to postnatal physiotherapists and women’s health experts. But after doing a few months of research, I quickly realised that it wasn’t just support with postnatal fitness that new mothers were lacking, it was postnatal care and support in general.

A common thing I kept hearing was that there is so much support, information and access to healthcare professionals during pregnancy, but once the baby arrives all of that attention shifts onto the baby, and the mother is often left on her own with very little support.

So I pivoted the business idea slightly and decided to create a club where new mothers could come to not only get access to postnatal fitness support but also meet other mothers at similar stages in their journey. They could share their experiences and learnings with one another, and attend talks by baby experts and women’s physical and mental health coaches.

How did the community evolve over the years?

The pandemic meant that we evolved into a fully online platform, thankfully still able to provide educational content and access to expert care, as well as connections with other mothers across multiple digital channels. The community grew to almost 14,000 over Zoom, Facebook and Instagram, and then once Covid-19 restrictions started to lift, I was able to bring members from the online world to connect in person.

What lessons have you learned from setting up your own business?

Oh, so many. But my top insights would be:

1) Don’t do it alone. Setting up and running a business solo can be incredibly isolating. I found it hard not to have someone to bounce ideas off. Also you can’t be an expert in everything, so try and find a co-founder or small team that compliments your skillset.

2) Raise capital. Growing and scaling a business can be incredibly difficult without seed money. Even starting with a friends and family round would help give that bit of injection you’d need to start and build that team around you.

3) Protect your mental health. Starting and growing a business is an intensity not many can experience, unless they’ve gone through it themselves. It’s a completely different kind of pressure to working for someone else so make sure you have the necessary support systems in place to help you manage work/life balance.

4) I’m incredibly brave and capable of doing hard things. It took courage for me to set up a business in something I knew nothing about at the time. It was hard, but I did it. And I’m so proud of what I built and the number of families I have been able to support.

You recently decided to take a break from Pachamama. How important was it for you to make that decision?

I decided to take a break because I had a baby and whilst the community I had built was incredibly supportive throughout my whole journey from fertility, pregnancy and into motherhood, I really struggled balancing being a new mum with being a founder and business owner.

It was through a ton of work on myself that I slowly (and sometimes painfully) realised that I couldn’t grow and nurture myself and my family, whilst also trying to grow

and nurture a business. So I made the very difficult, but brave decision to take a step back. I was able to take everything I’d learnt from the Pachamama community of mothers and experts about honouring one’s own needs, and put it into practice. And it was the best decision I could have made for myself, and ultimately for my family.

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

When it comes to my career, it’s definitely setting up Pachamama. I’m incredibly proud of the courage I had to not only start a business but spot an opportunity in a market that I was not yet part of. I’m incredibly proud of the feelings of connection and togetherness Pachamama offered to so many mothers during a global pandemic, and for having an impact on thousands of women at one of the most transformative times of their lives.

During your time at School, did you know what you wanted to do as a career?

Not at all. Looking back, I realise that my knowledge of what the working world looked like was extremely limited. I wasn’t even aware that entire industries, such as media and marketing etc, even existed. All I knew

was that I really enjoyed Philosophy and Ethics, so that was what I wanted to continue at university, but beyond that I had no clue. For whatever reason, I always knew I would figure it out at some point.

What role did your school education play in preparing you for your future?

There is definitely a certain level of confidence and self-assurance that I’ve noticed Wycombe girls in general have about themselves, which is pretty incredible, especially when you’re embarking on new projects or entering workplaces which are predominately white and male. I’ve always gone into any situation feeling empowered and that I deserved a seat at the table; I definitely have Wycombe Abbey to thank for that.

What were your passions and interests at Wycombe Abbey?

Theatre and music were where it was at for me. If you couldn’t find me in the classroom it was probably because I was over at the Lancaster Arts Centre either rehearsing for a play or practising songs for an upcoming performance. I loved being part of a team delivering a performance on stage or leading choir through carol services.

Were there any inspirational influences at School?

When I was in the earlier years, it was definitely the older girls. There would be certain individuals I was drawn to, either through their achievements, talents or approachability that were constant reminders and reference points of how I would like to be when I was older.

What is one of your most favourite memories from being at Wycombe Abbey?

One memory that came back to me when thinking about this question, was sports day. I can’t remember the exact year, I think I must have been in Lower or Upper Fifth. And I can’t remember the details of the day, only how I felt - relaxed and happy. The sun was out, my family were there to support me, and my Barry Housemates and I had just finished the relay. Everyone was smiling and it was one of the few times we got to mix family and friends at school. That day felt pretty special.

Also fairies! Waking up one morning in December to see that ‘the fairies’ aka Lower Sixth had visited and decorated the House overnight. I’ll never forget the crepe paper bunting in the main stairwell. It felt very special.

What advice would you like to pass along to pupils?

It might feel as though the decisions you make at school will dictate the rest of your life; they won’t. The world is fluid, and you can and should be too. Identify what brings you joy and pursue those things. Find your people and support one another. Embrace learning but don’t put pressure on yourself to always get it right. Follow your own path and don’t compare yourself with others around you.

PACHAMAMA LONDON ARIANNA

Betty Makharinsky

Betty (C282, Airlie, 2012) is a classical soprano and producer; she is co-founder of registered UK charity Vache Baroque and of Philomel Creative Circle.

Upcoming highlights include Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor and Purcell’s Indian Queen at the 2023 Salzburg International Festival. Betty was a semi-finalist at the inaugural New Voices Singing Competition (Aldborough Festival) earlier this year. Recent opera credits include FloraThe Turn of the Screw (Dartington International Festival), The Model - WEAR (Tête à Tête Festival), and Amor - Orfeo ed Euridice (New Sussex Opera).

Please give us a brief outline of your career so far.

After leaving School, I read music at Exeter College, Oxford. I then trained as a singer at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and on the Barock Vokal excellence programme in Germany. During my postgraduate studies, I began to work as a freelance classical singer in London and further afield. My choral scholarship at St Martin-in-theFields provided a great introduction to the world of choirs and concerts, where a chance meeting with two pianists sparked my interest in song recitals. In parallel to this, I was continuing to take private singing lessons and pursuing other opportunities to take part in operatic productions; initially these were unpaid shows, equivalent to work experience. I love opera and that’s still where my heart is really at, so I’m extremely

excited to be heading to the Salzburg Festival this summer for my first longer professional contract. Alongside singing I produce events, particularly with Vache Baroque, a musical charity I co-founded in 2020.

What led you to set up Vache Baroque?

Vache Baroque was born a few months into the first 2020 lockdown. In the absence of any performing work, I had been staying busy with singing practice, online teaching, bonding with my little niece and nephew, and incessant Joe Wicks workouts. By early June, things were starting to open up so my partner Jonathan and I drove up to Somerset to buy a harpsichordlearning to play had been a longstanding ambition of his.

A few weeks later, we heard rumblings of outdoor performances starting to crop up around the UK. We were generously offered use of the beautiful Vache house and grounds (in the Chilterns AONB, about 20 minutes from High Wycombe) and felt this was an unmissable opportunity. Together with my brother Daniel (an engineering graduate at a loose end) and my friend Amelia (on furlough from the National Theatre press and marketing team) we decided to launch Vache Baroque with a staged production of Purcell’s opera Dido and

Aeneas in early September 2020. We collaborated with street-style dance troupe BirdGang Ltd, Royal Opera House director Thomas Guthrie, and mezzo-soprano Katie Bray (winner of the Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize at Cardiff Singer of the World 2019). Thanks to our starry cast and creative team, both performances sold out and we garnered enthusiastic reviews from the Times and Opera Magazine, amongst others.

Spurred on by the success of this first production, in February 2021 we registered as a charity. It’s been a whirlwind ever since!

What has been your proudest achievement and what are your hopes for the charity moving forwards?

I’m really proud that access and outreach have been at the heart of what we do since day one. In 2020 we invited local community groups to watch our Dido dress rehearsal free of charge. Wycombe Refugee Partnership have been attending since 2021; their team is indefatigable, providing vital front-line support to families. Working with them is always extremely rewarding and inspiring; earlier this year, we collaborated on our first musical workshop for a group of their beneficiaries.

2022 was an exciting year for us; we delivered our third critically-acclaimed opera production, two large-scale London events (a Ukraine fundraiser and a gala Bach celebration, featuring the second edition of our Children’s Choir), our first in-school workshops and a trial series of ‘Come and Learn To Sing’ workshops in partnership with the Wycombe Arts Centre.

We also began creating ‘A History of Sound’, our devised children’s workshop-show, aimed at Key Stage 2 pupils. This autumn we’re taking it to state primaries in Buckinghamshire, Slough and Brent, including Hamilton

Academy in High Wycombe. As a Wycombe girl, giving back to this town is something very close to my heart. The fact that it’s our closest urban centre is a very happy coincidence.

Moving forwards, I hope that we continue growing and achieving more impact, slowly but surely. Combining my own singing career with running a charity is at times challenging, but, I wouldn’t change it for the world and feel very lucky to be on this journey.

What were your passions and interests at Wycombe Abbey? During your time at School, did you know what you wanted to do as a career?

I spent a great deal of time in the Music Department (playing violin, doing some singing) but ballet lessons and ‘advanced dance’ rehearsals were the major highlights of each week.

I don’t remember feeling pressure from my teachers to convert my passions for dance or music into professional aspirations and I think this allowed me to develop both of these activities in a relatively stress-free way. Working towards school concerts and dance showcase events was more than exciting enough! I imagined that I would grow up to be a performer

of some sort but I didn’t ‘discover’ classical singing until after I’d left and started university.

What role did your school education play in preparing you for your future?

Founding a charity (or any enterprise) requires determination and resilience. I certainly feel both these characteristics were nurtured and strengthened in me, as in all my peers at Wycombe Abbey. In fact, I would say this is one of the defining characteristics of a ‘Wycombe girl’. I enjoyed almost all my academic lessons and feel lucky to have had the opportunity to do so many ‘extras’ without ever compromising on Maths or English.

Wycombe Abbey also instilled in me a great deal of confidence. I don’t feel scared to try my hand at something new, even if somewhere down the line I need to ask for help. One of the up-shots of creating something from scratch during a pandemic was having a luxurious amount of time available! The cheapest way to build a website or to create a production budget was to just have a go (aided by a YouTube tutorial). I’ve definitely found ‘upskilling’ the most stimulating aspect of this process.

Were there any inspirational influences at School?

Certainly - I was influenced by inspiring teachers across the boardand by lots of older girls, particularly dancers and musicians.

What is one of your most favourite memories from being at Wycombe Abbey?

I can vividly remember having joyful and summery birthday picnics in the beautiful grounds, usually up at Daws Hill. My other favourite memory is performing our ‘Back to Black’ number at the choreography competition with three of my closest friends!

What advice would you like to pass along to pupils?

I would advise any pupil to find something they love doing and to do as much of that as they can; I’m sure that the array of extras to choose from at Wycombe Abbey is still vast. Don’t miss this opportunity to be busy and to throw yourself into all aspects of school life.

Wednesday 13 December A Baroque Hanukkah

St John’s Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HA

Vocal and instrumental music by Salomone Rossi and his contemporaries

Vache Baroque singers and the award-winning ensemble La Vaghezza unite to celebrate the Hanukkah story and mark 400 years of Salomone Rossi’s Hebrew-texted The Songs of Solomon. Ravishing instrumental pieces and psalm settings by Rossi will be coupled with works on the same texts by contemporaries such as Campion, Schütz, Cavalli, and Purcell.

Registered UK Charity 119359

Vache Baroque

Supporting Careers Education at Wycombe Abbey

We are very grateful for the enthusiastic involvement of many of our Seniors in all things careers-related. Over the years, many of you have spoken to pupils about your career pathways, hosted insight days at your workplaces and mentored pupils. It’s wonderful to see these networks being fostered and we are always delighted when Seniors offer their assistance. If you are interested in helping the girls as they step out into the world, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

Mentoring

We offer online mentoring support to pupils in Upper Sixth from the Autumn Term onwards. For the mentors, this involves catch ups with one or two pupils, allowing them the chance to pick your brains, find out more about your career journey and ask for advice as they consider university courses.

Speaking at an event

We organise a variety of careers events in School each term and are always keen to hear from Seniors who would be willing to come along and speak about their career pathways. We look to represent different professions and levels of experience. Our flagship event, the Careers Seminar, is due to take place on Thursday 9 November this year. Do get in touch if you would like to come along and speak.

Offering to host an Insight Day

Getting out of School and into a real workplace is of great benefit to pupils. If you work in a company which might be willing to host an Insight Day for a small number of our pupils (max five) then we’d love to hear from you. The idea would be to bring them along to get a feel for what the company does, the sorts of roles available and what a day at work with that company might look like.

Work Experience

Work experience is so important for our pupils. If you would be willing to work with our Careers Department to organise a short work experience placement (usually one week) then we’d be very keen to hear from you. We can assist with co-ordinating paperwork and make sure that the process is as straightforward as possible. Our pupils are always looking for opportunities so do get in touch if you might be able to help. A good time for placements is often the first week of the summer holidays (early July) or one of the weeks during October Long Leave (w/c 16 October 2023).

For more details, or if you’re able to help please contact one of us:

Alison Kiln, Head of Careers kilna@wycombeabbey.com

Becky Scott, Careers Administrator scottb@wycombeabbey.com

Sue Jenkins

Former Housemistress of Shelburne

From a young age, Sue wanted to be a teacher of physical education and music. She taught in primary and secondary, state and independent schools and love every minute of her 45 year career as a teacher. She played piano and classical guitar, played netball at club, county, regional and national level as well as qualifying as a British Ski Instructor and gained coaching awards in all the major sports.

What was life like in Shelburne House? What challenges did you face?

Moving to be Housemistress at a boarding school was a big change for me. I initially started in Airlie but at that time the accommodation was just a one bedroomed flat and I had a husband and three children, so Judy Goodland offered me the opportunity to move to Shelburne. When I started it was obvious that the girls seemed to lack House spirit and did not do well in any of the inter-House events. I spoke to the House and said I did not expect them to win everything, but they needed to support each other and those not taking part should be be on the sidelines cheering their friends on. At the next inter-House netball competition the atmosphere was wonderful. All the House turned up and jumped up and down, cheering like mad when we scored a goal, we didn’t win but the House came in the top four, a wonderful achievement. From then on, we started to win, not because we necessarily had the best sports women, Musicians, Dancers, or Actresses but because we supported each other, and it really meant something to do well for the House.

You worked at Wycombe Abbey for 23 years; what changes did you see to and within the School over that time? What impact did they have on your role?

There were huge changes throughout the time I was at Wycombe. I served under four Headmistresses, all very different. The accommodation improved considerably for girls and House staff, the pastoral care was second to none, and the PE Department expanded considerably to offer a huge variety of sports.

What was your proudest achievement from your time at Wycombe Abbey?

Winning the Sports Shield for the first time was the best moment, the girls could not believe it. It brought them very close as a House and made them realise the importance of supporting each other.

What were your favourite memories of your time at Wycombe Abbey?

House Christmas Party when everyone dressed up and always ended the evening by singing Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of their voices. The ski trips I organised to America and Canada, particularly the last one to Whistler when on the last day 60 of us skied from the top of the mountain dressed in onesies and raising over £1,000 for charity.

What have you been up to since you left?

I seem to be as busy since retiring as I was when I was working full time. I sing in the church choir, chair a charity to support the upkeep of the 1st century Norman church in our village. I mentor part time at a different boarding school, I am on the panel of the Ladies Ski Club of Great Britan and organise the British Schoolgirls Indoor Ski Races at Milton Keynes Snozone every year. I enjoy spending time with my two grandchildren and daughter who live in Reading and like to visit my other two daughters who live in Paris.

Are you still in touch with anyone?

I lived with 300 girls for five years of their lives and have kept in touch with many of them.

What advice would you like to pass along to current pupils?

Believe in your dreams and make sure whatever profession you enter, it is something you are passionate about.

You are currently a member of the Seniors’ Consultative Committee (SCC), why is this important to you?

It is an honour to be part of the Senior Consultative Committee as it gives me the opportunity to give something back to the School having had such a wonderful time there as a teacher and housemistress. I love to find out how past and present pupils are getting on and to see how the school continues to go from strength to strength.

Annual Fund

Wycombe Abbey has benefitted for many years from generous philanthropic support, through gifts at all levels, from our wonderful community of Seniors and Honorary Seniors. This generosity has helped to enable a number of projects beyond what could have been funded by the School itself, helping to strengthen Wycombe Abbey’s ability to provide a world class, futurefocused education that allows each girl to flourish in her chosen path.

Whilst single big gifts received are talked about and recognised, the power of collective giving is a message that can be more easily missed. And yet, it is something that defines and embeds an organisation’s culture of philanthropy. This is why Wycombe Abbey and other schools and charities run programmes like an Annual Fund to encourage everyone to consider making a donation at whatever level they may feel able to make.

Our Annual Fund provides unrestricted support to the School in three key areas that help to deliver outstanding learning and boarding experiences for the girls:

• Area of Greatest Need – allows the School to direct funds towards the areas of greatest priority and support a broad range of projects.

• Bursaries - we wish to ensure that a Wycombe Abbey education is available to more girls who would benefit from an education here, no matter her family’s financial circumstances. A successful bursary programme ensures that the School community reflects different perspectives and lived experiences. This is something that all pupils will benefit from as they make their journey through School and into the world beyond.

How to Support Us

(UK bank accounts only)

You can also make a donation via bank transfer, credit or debit card, or cheque.

• Living and Learning Facilities - Wycombe Abbey is recognised as the leading girls’ boarding school in the UK. High quality, fit-for-purpose facilities that benefit our current and future pupils is an important element in enabling us to remain in this position. It helps create an environment for our girls to pursue academic excellence and for our staff to provide outstanding teaching, both of which enable our pupils to flourish and fulfil their potential.

If you want to learn more about how support for the School is encouraged, please visit the Development webpage .

To donate to the Annual Fund please click on the buttons below. We are grateful for donations of all sizes and we hope that you will consider supporting an area most meaningful to you.

Together, we can ensure that current and future generations of Wycombe Abbey pupils will experience a world class School.

Tax-efficient giving from Overseas

The Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong Foundation has charitable status in Hong Kong. Donations made to the Foundation are eligible for tax deductions subject to normal restrictions.

If you live in the USA, you can give tax-effectively to the School via CAF America and British Schools and Universities Foundation (BSUF).

The Dove-Bowerman Society –A gift in your will

A legacy gift is one of the most influential ways in which you can help and is an indication of your affection for the School.

We strive to ensure that Wycombe Abbey continues to evolve and grow, offering the highest possible academic standards with state-of-the-art living and learning facilities. Our world class vision requires financial support and can only be achieved with the generosity of our Seniors.

Whilst you do not have to inform us of your gift, we would love for you to let us know and would be delighted to welcome you as a member of the Dove-Bowerman Society, set up in 2017 to recognise and thank all those who indicate an intention to leave a legacy to the School.

Please complete the pledge form as a means of notifying us of your intentions and desire to join the DoveBowerman Society or contact the Development Office by emailing development@wycombeabbey.com.

Thank you for helping Wycombe Abbey continue to ensure that the next generation of pioneering women will receive exceptional opportunities that will prepare them to reach their fullest potential.

By remembering Wycombe Abbey in your will with either a lump sum or part of your estate, you have the capability to support the School’s ambitious plans as they evolve over time.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LEAVING A GIFT IN YOUR WILL

Seniors’ Connect

Keep in touch and read the latest news and updates about Seniors’ activities and School events. Seniors’ Connect is the perfect way to reach out to the Seniors’ community. If you are part of a society, use the group tool to contact members.

Careers

• Find a mentor

• Post a job vacancy

• Search for positions

• Meet other people in your sector

• Support Seniors and pupils as a mentor

Events

• Register for upcoming events

• Share and view photos

Connect

• Search the Seniors’ directory

• Connect and message friends

• See other members in your Circle

• Search groups by country, region, city and university

As

click here

01494 896309

seniors@wycombeabbey.com

Registered Charity No. 310638

we look to host more Seniors’ events based on leaving year, location or even career, we want to make sure you are invited. Please .................... to update your postal and email addresses so you don’t miss out on any