What type of governor are you? Appointed by the sponsor, the London Diocesan Board for Schools.

Why are you a governor of St Mary Magdalene Academy? I am a local parent with a background in business and the financial sector.

Which subject at school did you love best – and why? English and art – I love writing and drawing.

What’s your favourite book of all time? Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Forget the show, read the book!

Who was your most memorable / inspiring teacher at school? Most inspiring was Miss Gregory, my English teacher, who introduced me to WB Yeats and TS Eliot. Most memorable was my Latin teacher, Miss Edmonds, who had one red eyebrow and one black one and spent most of our lessons doing the Times crossword puzzle. She would glance up occasionally and demand a line or two of translation from Virgil, which always resulted in her losing her temper and throwing a board rubber at one of us. Nonetheless, we came to love her.

What’s your favourite: chocolate or ice cream? I love all kinds of chocolate – except the really dark stuff that is supposed to be good for you. Ice cream has to be from Tina’s Ices, the ice cream van that parks – most conveniently – outside my door.

What are your hopes for St Mary Magdalene Academy? I want St Mary Magdalene Academy to be the secondary school that this community deserves, with the highest academic and ethical standards. I want the children who go to the school to have fun and to find out how inspiring learning can be.

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