This Year ‘Once you had plucked up courage to go to the Norwood Hall for lunch, nothing else in life would seem too intimidating.’
I
am deeply honoured to be the incoming President of the Marlburian Club. Thank you to Nick Cooke-Priest (LI 1983-85) for his outstanding hard work – I’ve got giant shoes to fill. Along with Nick’s wonderful predecessor, Catherine Stewart (LI 1974-76), we’ve developed a Littlefield dynasty. Perhaps our next President should come from another part of the Bath Road.
and imposing boys’ school. Marlborough College was one of the very few places I could study A levels in French, Russian, Business Studies and Art. I was so lucky to receive one of the best educations in the world, not just at an academic level, but at the level of confidence too. Once you had plucked up courage to go to Norwood Hall for lunch, nothing else in life would seem too intimidating.
I cannot believe it’s nearly 50 years since I showed up as a gawky, bespectacled 15-year-old girl at this massive
Since that day, helping others to get a great education has been a life-long passion. Studies show that the single best
investment we can make in our world is to provide a quality education for every child. In too many parts of the world, children do not get the chance to go to school. If they go to primary school, they do not make it to secondary school. Of those who do, many, especially girls, do not finish secondary school. And yet, if this could change, the world would be more peaceful, healthier, more prosperous and more able to tackle climate change. I dream of a Marlborough-quality education for every child. Marlborough’s international work and its bursary scheme are all part of that dream and I look forward to giving these initiatives my wholehearted support. While I was at Marlborough, I remember the Sex Pistols’ God Save The Queen reaching Number 1 and being banned on the BBC. I also recall a rousing speech from Benazir Bhutto, but that is really my only memory of politics during my time at the College. I certainly never dreamed that I would pursue a career in elected politics, let alone become the first female graduate of the College to be elected to the House of Commons. At one stage, after I first got elected, women who went to Marlborough were married to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the heir to the heir to the throne, and the Governor of the Bank of England. These couplings are something to celebrate, and I know all these women work very hard in their own right. However, I hope I can inspire more Old Marlburians to think about standing for election at every level, either as a first or a second career. I am delighted that the 2023 OM Summer Drinks will take place at the House of Commons, which will be a great opportunity for our fellow OMs to meet other OM politicos of all stripes. I encourage any aspirant Prime Ministers and those interested in any level of politics to come and join us for a Politics Professional Networking Group meeting in due course, too. A good education can take you anywhere. Let us use the luck we have had to join together and broaden that gift even more widely.
Harriett Baldwin (LI 1975-77) President of the Marlburian Club 6
The Marlburian Club Magazine
