OC NEWS IN BRIEF

Engagements

Lilly Froud (1998-2009) and Adam Legzdins are pleased to announce their engagement which took place on the Ben Nevis Mountain range in Scotland on 21st December 2019. They are due to be married in the School Chapel next summer. Jusden Halabi (2009-2016) and Nicole Stopp are delighted to announce their engagement which took place in London on 28th May 2021. They are due to be married in August 2023. Kathryn Weatherburn (2002-2009) and James Castledine are happy to announce their engagement which took place in Dunblane, Scotland on 17th July 2021. They hope to get married in the next couple of years after the birth of their little boy.

Weddings

Matthew O’Connor (1998-2009) and Grace Smith were married at St Andrew’s Church, Cotterstock, Northamptonshire on 10th October 2020. They had a small reception with just family and close friends to celebrate their big day. They then honeymooned in Tuscany and Northern Italy. Daniel Bloom (2001-2009) and Shona Murphy were married at Ballyseede Castle, Tralee, Ireland on 28th December 2020. They celebrated with 25 of their closest family and friends including their two children, Isabelle (5) and Harry (2). Viboo Skanda-Kumar (1998-2009) and Billie Grace Jessie Pearson were married at Kenton Hall Estate on Saturday 21st August 2021. They held a traditional English-style wedding as well as a Hindu Ceremony at a family temple. Anna Green (1999-2010) and Nate Raine were married, after a long postponement due to COVID-19, on 22nd August 2021 at Manor of Groves, Sawbridgeworth. OCs Adam Green, Louise Russ (Bridesmaid), Leah Droznika (nee Steele), Riah Patel and Ben Glassman were present.

Births

Alex Ford (2000-2002) and his wife Eloise are glad to announce the arrival of their second son Harper on 18th November 2020. He was born at Homerton Hospital in London. James Lee (1986-1994) and his wife Elena are happy to announce the birth of their second child Frederick William on 30th December 2020. Frederick was born at Queen’s Hospital, Romford.

Mark Kunaseelan (1999-2006) and his wife Angelina Elliott-Seelan are delighted to announce the arrival of their first child Gabriel on 2nd February 2021. He was born at Queen’s Hospital, Romford. Lilly Froud (1998-2009) and her fiancé Adam Legzdins welcomed their daughter Lilac Ella Jane on 15th February 2021. She was born at Ninewells hospital, Scotland.

Max Kempe (2001-2008) and his wife Lisa (1998-2005) are glad to announce the arrival of their first child Heidi Elsa Kempe on 19 March 2021. She was born at Homerton Hospital, Hackney. Michael Philpot (1996-2006) and his wife Sarah are pleased to announce the arrival of their first child Arthur Michael Philpot on 16th April 2021. He was born at Queen’s Hospital, Romford.

Emma Oxley (2006-2008) and her husband Daniel Gibney are delighted to announce the arrival of their first child Nellie (Eleanor Lily Linton Gibney) on 29th April 2021. She was born at UCL Hospital, London.

University News

YEAR GROUP 2015 YEAR GROUP 2016

Yasmin Nikookam (2008-2015) graduated with a degree in Medicine (MBChB) from the University of Birmingham in 2021, and a First Class intercalated BSc (Hons) in PreHospital Medicine at Queen Mary University in 2019. Alisha Evans (2006-2016) graduated with a 2:1 BSc (Hons) in Marine Geography from the University of Cardiff in 2020. Currently, she is studying for a MSc in Applied Marine Science at the University of Plymouth. She has secured a job as a Trainee Claims Executive at a P&I Club (Shipping Insurance) in London.

YEAR GROUP 2017

Jack Beadle (2010-2017) achieved a First Class BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Bath. He completed a placement year working at the Mind and Development Lab in Yale University. Rachel (Rui) Bu (2015-2017) was awarded a First Class MEng in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford. She is very interested in technology, finance and business and hopes to pursue a career in one of these areas.

Michael Chamberlain (2006-2017) gained a 2:1 BA (Hons) in History from the University of Oxford. He is aspiring towards a career writing for video games, film and television. Max Hammond (2007-2017) achieved a First Class BSc (Hons) in Economics with Industrial Experience from the University of Exeter. He is looking for employment in the asset management industry and in economics-based roles.

Rowan Jones (2010-2017) graduated with a First Class in Music BMus (Hons) from the Royal Academy of Music. She has begun her studies for her MMus at the Royal College of Music. Matthew McDonnell (2010-2017) graduated with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Digital & Technology Solutions from the University of Greenwich, which he completed in tandem with his role at Ford Motor Company as part of his degree apprenticeship. He will continue with Ford in a new role following the completion of his degree apprenticeship.

Patrick Murphy (2006-2017) gained a 2:1 BSc (Hons) in Construction Engineering Management from the University of Loughborough. Currently, he is embarked on a graduate scheme with Lendlease. Maddie Prior (2010-2017) achieved a 2:1 BA (Hons) in Graphic Design from Chelsea College of Arts, UAL.

Megan Whitehead (2006-2017) gained a 2:1 BA (Hons) in Business Management from the University of York. She completed 16 months at The Walt Disney Company as a UK Retail Sales Intern during her year in industry. She has secured a job on Aldi’s Graduate Area Manager scheme, based in the Chelmsford region.

YEAR GROUP 2018

Yasmin Antoniou (2011-2018) graduated with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science with Physiology and Pharmacology from St. George’s University of London. She is currently studying Graduate Entry Medicine at Queen Mary University of London. Aimei-Lee Aston (2011-2018) achieved a 2:1 BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of York and has started a graduate job at Hays as an Associate Recruitment Consultant.

Isabella Clark (2011-2018) graduated with a First Class BA (Hons) in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Warwick. She has just started a master’s degree at King’s College London in Modern Literature and Culture. Olivia Drabwell (2007-2018) graduated with a 2:1 BA (Hons) in English and Philosophy from the University of Nottingham. She has secured a job as the Marketing Manager for Tapestry.

Matthew Grubb (2011-2018) graduated with a 2:1 BA (Hons) in History, Ancient and Medieval, from the University of Birmingham. He has secured a job as a Business Travel Consultant at a corporate travel company. Maddie Lovett (2007-2018) gained a First Class BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Exeter. She is currently deciding on what her next steps will be.

Shanaiya Pithiya (2011 - 2018) achieved a 2:1 BA (Hons) in English and Film from the University of Birmingham. Rohan Sharad (2007-2018) graduated with a 2:1 BSc (Hons) in Politics & Economics from the University of Southampton and has embarked on a Consulting Graduate Scheme with Deloitte.

BY HEADS OF SCHOOL (2001-02) AND (2021-22)

Head To Head

BY BENJAMIN MULLISH (1991-2002)

My eleven years at Chigwell were a time of great change, including as it did a change of Headmaster, the end of Saturday classes, and the introduction of full co-education. It is hard to believe that twenty years have already gone by since I was Head of School. While a few of the tasks associated with the role were perhaps not the most envied in the school hierarchy (such as keeping the Removes from anarchy in the lunch queue or quieting everyone down before the Headmaster came into New Hall for assemblies), these were far outweighed by a number of unique and privileged opportunities, and I look back at my time in the role with pride and affection.

In a way, I was an unusual choice of Head of School, with many of those appointed in the few years preceding me being true ‘all-rounders’ and especially strong on the sports field; however, sport was not my strongest suit. I was altogether more at home in the artistic and cultural life of Chigwell. House Music was always a particular highlight of the calendar. I also always enjoyed being in plays and other productions at Chigwell. It was therefore very memorable as Head of School to be compère with Felicia Bamgbose for several evenings of Chigwell’s answer to the Royal Variety Performance, held as a fundraiser for the building of the new Drama Centre; it is very impressive to see the building today and to learn about the scale of the productions being carried out there from the OC Mitre. After Chigwell, I went to study Medicine for six years at Queens’ College, Cambridge University. The course was very challenging, but my grounding from School helped me with making my way through it. Next, I returned to London for junior doctor hospital jobs, before starting to specialise in Gastroenterology and Hepatology (gut and liver conditions). I was lucky enough to obtain a position joint between Imperial College London and some of its associated hospitals (St Mary’s and Hammersmith Hospitals), where I could undertake combined clinical training and research in the field, and I obtained my PhD from Imperial in 2019. I now carry on working at Imperial as an ‘Academic Clinical Lecturer’, where 50% of my time is spent in clinical work (as an NHS senior registrar), and the other 50% is spent doing ongoing postdoctoral research, contributing to both clinical trials and laboratory-based studies.

The period of the pandemic has been exceptionally challenging for those on the frontline of the NHS. I have been profoundly moved by all the kindness shown to those working in the NHS during this period, whether that be clapping in support or providing food to eat during long and busy shifts. PPE was another huge problem, and it was very touching to see from the last OC Mitre that the current generation of Chigwellians did not take very much time before they were making Perspex visors for healthcare staff; it looks like the principles of helping the wider community and of ‘find a way or make a way’ are still alive and well.

I have no doubt that leaving School and getting established in the world is a harder task now compared to when I left Chigwell: universities and the job market are more competitive than ever before; university fees are formidable; and a once-in-a-generation health emergency presents continued uncertainty. However, Chigwellians have always been resilient, adaptable and able to ‘dream big’ – there is enormous evidence of that from this publication, showing the positive impact that OCs have made across so many different fields.

Ben Mullish NHS Heroes portrait

I am certain that it is still a huge privilege to be Head of School and look forward to seeing the ways that future Chigwellians make their impact on the world.

BY LEWIS BOND (2015-2022)

If there was one common theme which ran throughout my time as a primary school student, it would be that I was quite the troubled child at times, likely caused by a turbulent childhood and an evident lack of self-identity. I look back at those early days and I’m astonished at my development since then, and it is obvious that my time at Chigwell has been the catalyst to my personal growth. I think the real turning point was when the Mr Ebden offered me a place in the Chapel Choir. I tentatively agreed and have never looked back. Music quickly became a passion and helped me to express myself in ways I had yearned for throughout my early childhood, and I was delighted to receive a music scholarship in Year 9. It has been a joy to take part in as many music events as possible, including performing in St. Paul’s and Canterbury Cathedrals.

Another subject I have become passionate about is Physics; in the third form, Mr Porter and Miss Leach were my form tutors – prophetic perhaps that I should have a physics and a music teacher supporting me in my first year. Physics has allowed me to hone my analytical skills and find my true academic calling, leading me to where I am now, seeking to take a degree in the subject. Without doubt, it will be the foundations I have grounded whilst at Chigwell that I will grow from in the future. The symbiotic relationship between these two subjects, one logical and one creative, has really been the key to my happiness over the last few years, and I hope to keep them both close to my heart when moving on from Chigwell. Moving beyond these two subjects, I couldn’t write about my time here without speaking of the plethora of other activities I have enjoyed, one of which being languages. German in particular has given me some of my favourite memories, taking part in the Hamburg Exchange organised by Mr Lukesch. This gave me a great opportunity to experience the culture I had learned about in the classroom.

Lewis Bond

Thinking of another aspect of my personal development, the very idea of speaking before a crowd of people would have frightened a younger version of myself, and I think the frequency with which I do so these days would have him quaking at the knees. However, after entering many competitions, such as the Rotary Youth Speaks Competition and many Middle School Speaking Competitions, I have come to enjoy the practice, and to be able to exercise this newly acquired and important muscle in my current position as Head of School is an honour.

The last seven years of my life have been the best yet, and I truly hope that my story can demonstrate to others, that success and happiness can prevail from any backstory. If you throw yourself into as much as you can and love what you do, you’ll be able to leave any walk of life a more fulfilled and happier person, prepared to tackle and embrace the next steps in life.

BY HANNAH KERN (2001-2010)

The Happiness Cycle

When at school, I would not have imagined I would become a happiness activist who was campaigning for equality by cycling around the world; so how did I get here? Of my 27 years, I am lucky enough to have spent a third of my life at Chigwell. I now understand how this privilege gave me the best start to life. Chigwell taught me to do my best, to ‘find a way or make a way’ to achieve my goals with confidence. I remember taking part in many charity fundraisers at school, helping me make the connection to do what I could to try and help those less fortunate.

Our world is a challenging place to be. Part of our human evolution is dependent on the opportunities we have. Some of these we are born with, others we create ourselves, but we don’t all start life with the same blessings. I feel it’s my duty to help those in need, raise awareness about social injustice and inspire positive change. I faced extreme emotional hardship and suffered from depression as a child, self-harming for more than four years. Conquering that battle taught me resilience and empathy. From then I decided to utilise my challenges in life to evolve my way of thinking and put more conscious thought into becoming the person I wanted to be.

With my greater understanding of positive psychology, I started to seek out every experience possible. I worked, and volunteered abroad, ran two businesses, gave two TEDx talks, worked to support a community suffering with drug and alcohol addiction or were victims or perpetrators of domestic abuse and sexual violence, and am now more than 11,000kms into cycling around the world.

These experiences taught me valuable lessons and inspired the birth of happiness activism. As an advocate for animal rights, human rights and environmentalism, I was forced to question the root cause of each issue and realised it was because of someone somewhere, making a selfish decision. When we’re at our happiest, that’s when we naturally make more compassionate and less selfish decisions as we have the mental room to think more consciously about others.

People often ask me, ‘What is happiness?’ True happiness is engaging with every bit of your life, through both the struggles and the ecstasy with the same state of presence and gratitude. I now give motivational talks, workshops, educational programmes and 1:1 coaching to help people achieve this and build the best reality for themselves, all beings and the planet.

Life is about mastering the art of letting go of control; making peace with unpredictability, trusting the process and embracing every single moment because even the worst situations gift us with the most precious lessons. Minimalist living has made me value what’s important and take the time to channel gratitude for the smaller things. I might live with less, but I’ve never had more – a plethora of experiences, lessons and valuable relationships; all of greater worth than any materialistic possession.

Before embarking on my trip, I hadn’t owned a bicycle since I was about ten years old. Now I’ve cycled through seven countries in scorching sun, intense storms, a freezing cold winter and monsoon rain. Just about everything that could have gone wrong has, from a snapped chain to being run over by a drunk driver! I started armed with nothing but a positive attitude, now I feel invincible - like I could conquer the world and I love nothing more than helping others to do the same; embrace their challenges and realise that they can do anything.

Barisal, Bangladesh

See www.hannahshappinessproject.com if you would like to follow my journey.

BY MARK KUNASEELAN (1998-2006)

Chigwell & Beyond

My time at Chigwell was a mixed one. I suffered the early loss of my mother and was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disease. However, Chigwell School also offered me many happy memories. I enjoyed being on the Food Committee where I pushed for healthier options to be introduced in the tuck shop and at lunch. I loved being a House Praefect for Penns and the responsibilities that came with it. A few pupils looked up to me as a role model and kept in touch. One thing I will say I definitely do not miss are the yearly Cross Country runs! As a slow runner, I should have simply consumed ‘fast food’. After I got married, I was headhunted to join Newham Council where I worked in recruitment on behalf of residents until I joined Hackney Council in-house. I am currently working as a Resourcing Manager for Parliament which is such a complex institution to work for but incredibly rewarding.

Mark & Angelina on their wedding day

Upon leaving Chigwell School, I studied at Brunel as well as Queen Mary, University of London, studying Computer Science with Business Management. Despite becoming popular for the first time in my life, there was an empty void in my life. Unfortunately, there was a near death experience and another incident that left a scar on me personally. Both of these events forced me to undertake a U-turn on my life.

After a period of spiritual growth, I entered the world of employability and recruitment, helping people to gain employment through training and job brokering. Due to my success, I was moved onto the National Accounts team, recruiting for major clients across had me travelling up and down the country. Across five years, I helped more than 1,700 people enter work. It’s during my time here that I met my wife and we got married in her hometown along the Costa Del Sol back in 2017. The very first thing I said to her as she walked into the office was “I didn’t know it was dress down day” and walked off with a smirk. If you are reading this and thinking about what path you want to go down in the future, don’t worry too much as my path to date hasn’t exactly work out as planned. I originally planned to go to University of the Arts since I had excelled at Graphic Design but was rejected. As my mother used to tell me, everything happens for a reason. If a door didn’t open up for me, it wasn’t the right door for me. With every event in life, there is always either a blessing or a lesson to take away. If you can tune into this kind of mindset, you can start to look at life more positively.

A few months ago, my first son Gabriel was born. The birth itself was a complicated one and despite all that he has suffered with issues since, he is such a bundle of joy and I can finally justify all of my ‘dad jokes’. What has particularly impressed me though is that from the day he was born, he has been smiling and holding his own bottle. What hasn’t impressed me is his ability to pee on everything and being full of beans at 4am. Despite the terrible losses suffered from COVID, it has given me an opportunity to be there for my son and my wife during their times of need.

BY NICK SUESS (1959-1965)

Our State of Isolation

“The world’s most isolated capital city” is a title applied to Perth, Australia, where I have lived for the majority of my 56 post-Chiggers years. Desert to the north and east, ocean to the south and west. Isolation was portrayed as a big negative, until along came Covid, when it suddenly became a massive boon.

For those OC readers who have never visited Australia, I am always eager to dispel the myth that our land is just beaches and desert, with one big rock in the middle, a bridge and an opera house on the right-hand edge, and a coral reef at the top-right corner.

There is so much more, and we love to explore inland, away from the cities and the beaches. Our most recent trip has been to seek out the wildflowers for which our state is famous, with August the month when most come out. Heavier than usual rain has made them spectacular this year, and driving the outback roads was like floating on a sea of colour. Orchids are plentiful, and in a huge number of varieties, but they often lurk in amongst the mere ‘ordinary’ flowers, and generally need a bit of spotting.

Once out beyond the agricultural regions, wild camping is easy, and mostly free. We tow a caravan, and if normality ever returns, there are plenty of excellent motorhomes available for hire. The ideal trip for the adventurous OC retiree - fly in, pick up the vehicle, and it’s a blank sheet itinerary until that flight out. Avoid the tourist spots, and go bush. Don’t hurry, but prepare yourself to be amazed. Towns are small, with many having fewer than 1000 citizens. Dumbleyung is one such-not a place from Harry Potter, but a township of fewer than 300 souls, which came to fame on New Year’s Eve 1964, when Donald Campbell broke the world water speed record there, achieving a burning ambition to break both land and water speed records in the same calendar year. That July he had broken the land record on the salt flats of Lake Eyre, but adverse wind and water conditions continually frustrated his pursuit of the second record, until he broke it at 276mph on Lake Dumbleyung. He had just hours to spare, on the 366th day of that year.

Like Dumbleyung, he was still short of 300, the goal of his next record attempt, on Coniston Water, when BBC viewers watched with horror as Bluebird became airborne, and disintegrated on hitting the water. His body was not recovered until 2001. Dumbleyung exhibits a fullscale replica of the boat.

Country pubs encourage campers for free on their car parks, as long as they come in and buy a beer and a meal. For that price you can base yourself at a fabulous historic inn like this! Another attraction, some of our towering grain silos have become ‘canvases’ for monumental art works. Come and see it all for yourself.

JODIE SPENCER (2001-2010)

Chigwell, Bangkok, Athens

One humanitarian worker’s journey

Ichose to become a humanitarian worker because I knew that, along with a solid education and strong academic qualifications, my childhood gave me much more – stability, resilience and energy. At Chigwell I received what all children deserve, but what not all receive - the security of having so many adults look out for me and believe in me.

After university, I completed a Master’s in International Relations and teacher training. I first volunteered in Moria Refugee Camp in 2018, one of the most famous Greek refugee camps, largely for its appalling living conditions and overcrowding. It is situated on the island of Lesvos which is the most popular crossing point for asylum seekers making the boat journey from Turkey. There I worked with a Greek NGO supporting unaccompanied minors living in the ‘protected’ sections of the camp. I taught English, Maths and ran various other sports and creative activities. I laughed, cried, felt empowered and felt hopeless – often all in quick succession. However, I left that experience knowing that this is where I really could make an impact.

I did not go directly back to the camps after I finished my second year of teaching. However, I found an internship with the child protection organisation “ECPAT International” and spent 6 months in Bangkok advocating to end the sexual exploitation of children in the travel and tourism industry. Undoubtedly worthwhile, yet I missed the personal interaction of teaching. Each one of us has the ability to show someone else that they matter, that they can achieve new things if they persevere. That’s the joy of teaching, yet the self-belief and confidence that goes with it is something acutely absent for almost everyone living in abysmal conditions in refugee camps. By reflecting on the teaching environment I came from, as a humanitarian worker I replicated as much of that energy that I could. So, after Bangkok, I began my first coordinator position in Skaramagas Camp, Athens. At the time it hosted about 3,500 asylum seekers. There I managed a women’s space and the children’s activities as well as training and supervising all the volunteers. After 8 months another position came up; this time managing a young adult education centre on Samos Island. The conditions in Vathy RIC were deplorable, thousands lived in tents on the side of a rat-infested mountain, their entry and exit monitored by police, city life marked by discrimination and police brutality, combined most of all with the slow and degrading asylum system. To top it all off, there was the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and a 7.0 Richter earthquake in October 2020. Safe to say that when I decided to work in education in emergencies, that’s exactly what I got in Samos.

I’m currently in Athens once again, seeing to work in advocacy to raise awareness of the multitude of human rights abuses occurring on Europe’s borders. Reflecting on my journey to getting here, I am grateful for my decisions to take risks – to say yes to opportunities, to value my abilities beyond academic qualifications, and to learn from experiences that I perhaps didn’t enjoy so much but that catapulted me into something I then loved (e.g Bangkok to Athens). I would encourage each of you to believe in what you can achieve and what you can share with people in all different circumstances.

The world’s a huge place and it’s full of amazing people – get out there and see what you can do.

BY SHIV RAJA (1996 – 2007)

Small Acts of Kindness

Over the past year, restrictions have meant that people across the country have been spending more time going for walks locally. It was during one such walk – past St Mary’s Church and the gates of Chigwell School – that it dawned on me how quickly time had flown by and how much the world had changed since I was a pupil.

I started at Chigwell at the age of 7. There has always been a strong emphasis in my family on education. Having come to England from East Africa, my father – the first in his immediate family to attend university – had instilled in me the importance of working hard at school. At home, I was often told that attending a school like Chigwell was a privilege and not something that should be taken for granted. There were, of course, some subjects that I enjoyed more than others and I found that I was drawn towards subjects such as government and politics, geography, history and religious studies.

Life at school went on as normal until 2005, when – a few months before I was due to sit my GCSEs – my father unexpectedly passed away. Only a few weeks before, my father had attended an open evening with me where we spoke to teachers about choosing my A-Levels. The news came as a shock to my family and also to the teachers, some of whom knew my father well. In addition to having to deal with the grief associated with losing a loved one, the exams were rapidly approaching. The teachers were quick to react and provided a huge amount of support to my family and me. In particular, I recall how Reverend Collingwood came to give his condolences and the Headmaster (Mr Gibbs) wrote a personalised message too. Bereavement is part of life but my family and I will never forget the support the school and its community provided us. It showed me that small acts of kindness, such as writing to someone to tell them you are thinking of them, or going to their house to tell them you are there for them, go a long way during times of difficulty.

I was able to sit my GCSEs because of the huge support I received from the school and then completed my AS-levels and A-levels. I particularly enjoyed studying government and politics at A-level where we had the opportunity to go on interesting trips into London and on a particularly memorable visit to Westminster, we even bumped into Tony Blair walking on the street. At the time, little did I know that the joy I found in subjects that were all about people would influence my future specialism.

After Chigwell I studied law at the LSE. I was drawn to the LSE because of the large numbers of international students (not unlike Chigwell) and because of its global reputation. It happened to be where my late father had also studied law. As I sat in my lectures, I knew that my father would have been proud that decades after him, I was sitting in the very lecture theatre that he used to sit in.

On leaving LSE, I trained to become a solicitor with the international law firm Allen & Overy, but now practise at Fox & Partners, which is a boutique employment and partnership law firm in London. I advise senior executives, companies, partnerships and partners on a wide-range of issues, including bullying at work, discrimination and whistleblowing. My job involves helping clients to find solutions to some very interesting legal problems!

Over the past year, I have witnessed how the pandemic has brought about a huge sense of kindness, community spirit and sense of duty. We have seen thousands of people supporting their local communities, from restaurants delivering free meals to NHS workers and volunteers assisting in COVID-19 vaccination centres, to teenagers shopping for elderly neighbours that have been self-isolating. The small acts of kindness I have witnessed in the community over the past year remind me of my time at Chigwell, and the small acts of kindness I received.

BY JUSTIN HALABI (2009-2016)

Old Chigwellian Elected New Councillor

It is an honour to have been elected the councillor for Hatch Lane ward, London Borough of Waltham Forest. Now the dust has settled from the campaign trail, it’s down to work delivering on the priorities of my constituents.

The main issue during this campaign was overdevelopment. Specifically, Waltham Forest Council’s plans to build high rises across Chingford & Highams Park. Residents were extremely concerned that the rural character of the area is slowly being eroded by these plans, which have neither taken these factors into account, nor have they considered local infrastructure like parking, schooling, and healthcare. My pledge was to stand against these policies and ensure that they can’t be pushed through without residents having their say.

Secondly, another important issue for me was local crime. Crime rates in London over the past 5 years have skyrocketed, and the residents of Hatch Lane feel it every day. I’m working closely both with local police forces and community groups to facilitate further patrols, but also a meaningful outlet to prevent the most vulnerable from entering the system in the first place. In this way, I hope that residents will be able to feel safe in their parks, streets, and homes.

My ambitions for standing as a councillor stem from my long-term involvement in local politics. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to see my parents serve as councillors and what it entailed, and consistently supported our local MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith across numerous campaigns. The A level subjects I studied at Chigwell have stood me in good stead for my new role. That said, I chose not to study politics at A level or at university. I have always been a believer that public service does not need a formal political education so to speak. At A level I studied English Literature, History and Maths. These subjects, developed further over my law degree and masters, have given me the tools which have underpinned the way I do politics. The writing skills gained whilst studying English Literature have enabled me to structure my work effectively and take an active role during scrutiny committees at the Council. Similarly, the analytical and problem-solving skills nurtured during my History and Maths courses have helped me when trying to find solutions to issues raised by constituents, and whilst striving towards an outcome which may at first not be going your way. But just as important as these skills were, those learned during the extracurricular activities catered for at Chigwell have also been pivotal. Whether it was during music, sports, public speaking or debating, Chigwell always gave me the opportunity for new experiences to develop as an individual. This is something which I think many of Chigwell’s alumni have benefitted from immensely.

Needless to say, I have my work cut out for me in the months ahead, but I am relishing the opportunity to deliver for the residents of Hatch Lane ward. Thank you to all within our Chigwell family who have relayed their kind words and wished me luck - I really do appreciate it.

BY KEJING ZHONG (2014-2016)

Chigwell Memories from Shanghai

Ihad a brilliant time at Chigwell School with friendship, inspiration, diversity, and inclusion being my main memories. Five years later and I hang out with some of these school friends now in the Shanghai CBD zones.

The inspired teaching I received helped encourage my love of maths, science and economics. I do believe that the knowledge I gained at Chigwell was not only useful for further education, but also sparked my curiosity and love of the world.

As an international student boarding at Chigwell, I experienced a diversity of cultures: students came from at least 15 different countries. This made our life, especially at weekends, extremely interesting. The staff often organised parties with distinct themes, so we had opportunities to taste food from all over the world and even watch performances during Diwali and Chinese New Year. I was so proud to be able to introduce my country to the others and learn about their countries from them. This made for an enjoyable and harmonious boarding life.

I also made lots of friends in Swallows. They showed great kindness by building an inclusive environment. I was a member of the debating society and although English is not my mother tongue, teachers and friends still gave me encouragement and provided many opportunities to help me practice. This experience not only improved my English, but also improved my logical understanding of the world.

With the warm support and precious knowledge that Chigwell gave me, I was able to attend the University of Cambridge to study Economics. The biggest difference between Cambridge and Chigwell was the level of independent learning required. Lecturers usually spent an hour to teach a whole unit of material which required about 4-5 hours of after-class study if you wanted to understand and digest it properly. Students had to take responsibility for their own development and future career. Therefore, I started to take internships at different institutions which helped to determine which career path I would pursue.

Kejing’s Cambridge graduation

I graduated from Cambridge with a 2:1 and the Newnham College Prize for academic achievements. Next I studied for a Masters in Financial Analysis (MFA) at the London Business School (LBS) where I built more connections with the real business world. The experience at LBS was quite different from Cambridge as academic life and social networking became equally important. Real financial market cases are much more complicated than the models we learned at university. LBS helped to bridge the gap between a pure academic world and a realistic business one.

Having graduated with distinction, I am now working in a Chinese top tier mutual fund as a fixed income investment researcher. My job requires a comprehensive understanding of macroeconomics and company level analysis. I learn new things every day to help keep track of the portfolio bonds, and I enjoy talking to sell-side analysts and different experts from the industry to get references for my own investment judgments. I believe that good investors can help society better allocate resources by directing funds towards good, efficient companies. This belief helped me to keep positive when facing many uncertainties during the past year.

I am grateful for my Chigwell experience and education. It helped me to develop as a mindful and intelligent woman. As an Old Chigwellian, I feel so lucky to have a wonderful community that supports me and keeps me in touch with School and my fellow OCs.

BY MICHAEL PHILPOT (1996-2006)

Working and Family in a post-Covid World

In my 30s, my thoughts turn to schooling my own kids. I think that there is no better place than Chigwell to send them based on my experience of enjoying school every day.

Our first child Arthur was born in the pandemic, 6 weeks early at 3lb 11oz, on April 21 2021. My wife Sarah had a routine pregnancy but after a midwife appointment at 34 weeks we had to go for a precautionary scan. They suspected the placenta wasn’t working properly and they needed to take the baby out. Going from working in the morning to potentially having a baby that evening, came as quite a shock.

Michael, Sarah and Arthur

Sarah spent 2 days in hospital preparing for an emergency C-Section. I remember those days being the hardest, as they were monitoring the baby’s heart rate and pumping her with steroids to help the baby’s premature lungs. Thankfully, he was born on the Friday, small but otherwise healthy.

We spent the next two weeks in the Queen’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Due to Covid restrictions, my wife and I had to take turns being by Arthur’s side as he grew to a more acceptable weight. Being in hospital alone with your newborn child was another strange result of the pandemic. This really was a crash course in being a new parent. The nurses were keen that I change his nappies. For any OCs that know me, this was easier said than done! Many of my OC friends are starting to think about sending their children to the school we all enjoyed. Arthur’s just a baby but he’s got me thinking too. What made school so special? I remember being pushed academically but also the team sports on offer and the friends I made, who I still see to this day. Sports at Chigwell, I always felt, were not optional but a way of life. Seeing your name on the team sheet for Saturday football was always the best feeling and some of the break-time football matches will live long in the memory. I think the team sports that Chigwell encouraged, taught us to embrace fitness and a healthy lifestyle but also to stick together with friends and family outside of school. My brother Andrew (also an OC) has never forgotten this. He’s recently started his two young boys Oscar and Arlo in his local team.

A lot of lessons we learnt at school and on the sports field have helped me in my work life. I was one of the country’s youngest qualified financial advisors at age 25 after taking my Investment Management Certificate and Diploma in Financial Planning. Working as a team and looking out for my friends, family and clients is something that I find the most important value to hold.

After helping build a successful financial services business, Financialadvisers4u, my brother and I have now launched a new, innovative, digital brand Tutumo. It will help parents find the right life insurance they need for family financial protection and reassuring peace of mind in these uncertain times. It’s great to be part of something that we hope will make a real difference.

This year has really taught me that we have to plan for the unexpected but also ensure we live our lives to the full!

BY NIKHIL MOHINDRA (2007-2017)

Nikhil’s GB Padel Success

Nikhil seen here on the right

Ifirst found Padel at the David Lloyd club in Chigwell, where I instantly took a liking to this new and unique sport. It was born in Mexico in 1969 and is a derivative of tennis and squash. It is played in an enclosed glass court with a net in the middle. Padel is always played in doubles, making it instantaneously one of the most social sports in the world. The court is two thirds the size of a tennis court and measures 20 x 10m.

Last year, Padel was adopted as an official sport here in the UK by the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association). According to the national sports committee, Padel is the world’s fastest growing sport. Currently, the UK has 108 courts compared to Spain, where they boast over 23,000 courts and over seven million players. It has just been elected to the 2023 European Olympic games which will be held in Krakow, Poland, meaning it is a step closer to being in the World Olympics.

Many famous stars, such as Novak Djokovic, have taken up the sport which is boosting its global presence. Padel offers unique aspects like running outside of the court to retrieve a ball to continue play which makes it very exciting. Please see ‘World Padel Tour’ on YouTube to watch some amazing Padel action. managed to place 6th out of twenty competing nations, meaning we qualify for the World championships in Qatar at the end of this year. In our group stage we were faced with Belgium, Poland and Finland. We beat Poland and Finland whilst we narrowly lost out to Belgium, placing us 2nd in the group and advancing us to the knockout stages where we lost out to Italy, placing us 6th in the tournament overall.

I am now back in England after spending most of the past 2 years training hard in Spain and travelling around the world to compete in worldwide events. My training regime consists of training on the court twice a day, one morning session (90 minutes) and one evening session (90 minutes) while fitting a physical session (45 minutes) inbetween. The hardest part for me is consistently having to consume 5300 calories daily! Most of my training is at Chelsea Harbour club in London while I also still train at David Lloyd Chigwell.

My future objective for Padel is to maintain my place in the British team, as every year it is getting more competitive, and hopefully represent Great Britain at the Olympic games one day.

If you wish to learn more about this sport then please have a look at the official LTA website: www.lta.org.uk/play-compete/getting-started/padel

BY ARTUR JARZABEK (2004-2006)

Memories from Madrid

2004, the year I joined Chigwell School sixth form, seems to be a completely different galaxy from where I am today. Nobody had PhD level knowledge about epidemiology, corona was a positive synonym of Mexican beer. Finally, Poland joined the EU which personally made me feel that the world begins at one’s doorstep, ready to be discovered. Of course, if there is a will, there is a way, but making movement easier certainly facilitated my departure from Poland, at the age of 16, and my subsequent settlement in the UK.

My first steps on leaving Poland were not easy, but very quickly I found my balance, composure and confidence thanks to the hospitality of all the Chigwellians. In the end the school is not the building, it is the people who create it, from the youngest pupils who generate surprisingly high-pitch and high-decibel levels of noise, through all the senior students who have the false perception of being mature already, not realising that being young, curious and not overly serious is the key to being happy, to teachers and a headmaster, captains of this educational vessel. In short, all the staff, invisible heroes carrying out the duty of making Chigwell School a most welcoming and hospitable place. I remember Chigwell to be a real community. A set of people who worked hard to create a joyful place to be.

Yes, studying is not always the most riveting activity one can do, especially when all the football pitches are yelling through the windows “Come out and play!” Yet this sometimes-tedious activity of learning does give you an important perk called education, and the one you can get at Chigwell is superb and door-opening. If it was not for this high-class education I received, I would not have gone to study aerospace engineering at Imperial College, where I had a great student life and enjoyed all London had to offer. Likewise, I would not have undertaken my Masters in Tenerife, learning how to kite surf and scuba dive in my free time.

Following that, I would not have ended up in Madrid doing a PhD in a mixture of engineering and applied mathematics, getting to know all its cuisine and peculiarities. Finally, I would not have ended up advising US startups on how they should develop, get funding and collaborate with governmental agencies such as the Department of Defense.

Of course, there is no control group, i.e. I do not have a twin brother that went to Eton College, for instance, but I know that Chigwell gave me the basic tools to go out there and thrive, and not to be put off by any mishaps. 2020 and 2021 has been peculiar years, but I can guarantee that the future will be better. So go out and make the most of it!

Artur and son, Leon, La Pedriza region, 2021