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NLCS MAGAZINE FOR OLD NORTH LONDONERS

ISSUE 29 / SUMMER 2026

Acknowledgements: With sincere thanks to all who have contributed to this edition of ONLINE magazine. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of North London Collegiate School.

NLCS MAGAZINE FOR OLD NORTH LONDONERS

ISSUE 29 / SUMMER 2026

The magazine is edited by Sonal R Dhadphale and designed by The Graphic Design House, tgdh.co.uk. North London Collegiate School Canons Canons Drive Edgware Middlesex HA8 7RJ onla@nlcs.org.uk | +44 (0)20 8951 6450 Frances Mary Buss @francesmarybuss Frances Mary Buss #ONLCommunity

Cover: ‘Anatomy of Distance’ by Alayna Faisal (ONL 2025) This series of etchings isolate hands as instruments of connection, suspended in gestures which never fully touch. The piece reveals how external structures prevent the innate desire for intimacy.

Contents 4 5 6

The NLCS Collection Welcome from the Headmistress Welcome from the Director of Philanthropy and Alumnae Relations 9 Welcome from the Head of Alumnae and Supporter Relations 10 NLCS in Action 16 Welcome from the Honorary ONL Ambassador 22 Alumnae Team Feature: From Moments to Movement 26 Meet Our New ONLs 28 Alumnae Voices: Dame Anna Wintour (ONL 1967) Hephzibah Rudofsky, née Kohn (ONL 1982) Ruth Yimika Afolabi (ONL 2006) Sharmila Sani, née Nandwani (ONL 1990) Sofia Johanson (ONL 2019) Tiana Lakhani (ONL 2021) Valerie Mendes, née Barnett (ONL 1958) Cara Kliman, née Wides (ONL 1995) and Jane Corry, née Thomas (ONL 1974) 46 Event Highlights 56 ONL Community Chapters 62 ONLs in Colour 70 ONL News 78 ONLs in Print 86 Dates for Your Diary 87 Thank You 90 From the Archives 98 In Memoriam 108 NLCS International: Education Without Borders 112 Philanthropy

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The NLCS Collection Created for ONLs, Honorary ONLs, parents, pupils and friends of the School, the first official NLCS Collection celebrates the community we share. Discover designed pieces to wear, use and enjoy - with every purchase supporting the NLCS Bursary Fund and helping more young girls benefit from an exceptional NLCS education.

Take NLCS with you. Launching Autumn 2026

https://nlcs.org.uk/merchandise onla@nlcs.org.uk 4 ONLINE Magazine

Scan to shop the collection Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Welcome from the Headmistress

he theme we chose for this edition is Amplify, and it feels like exactly the right word for a community like ours. Not a single voice, but many voices, across decades and continents, carried forward by a shared sense of what an NLCS education gave us and what it continues to give.

This has been a year of real momentum. Being named Independent Secondary School of the Year by the Sunday Times felt like a particularly proud moment, and our international family continues to grow. We are also delighted to have received a Wellbeing Award through Optimus Education, following a year-long review of pastoral provision across the Senior and Junior School. The assessors noted the warmth of relationships across the school, and that pupils feel a genuine sense of identity and belonging here. This year also saw the launch of Surge, a new programme for Year 12 students that prepares our girls to challenge the inequalities that persist in the start-up world, through workshops, mentorship and keynote events rooted in lived experience. We also climbed 154 places in the School Sports Magazine rankings, placing NLCS in the top 2% of sporting schools nationwide. And through our Education Futures Dialogue series, organised by our Ideas Hub, we have been bringing together voices from across the educational world to talk openly about education, without the pressure of arriving at easy answers. This year we are launching the NLCS Merchandise Shop, with all profits going directly to the Bursary Fund, open to the whole community, past and present. I hope you will take a look. I also want to thank those who find your way back to us, whether to speak to students, to mentor, to volunteer, or simply to stay in touch. That connection between past and present students is one of the things that makes this community so distinctive.

ONLINE Magazine

This magazine reflects the depth of what that community looks like in practice. Inside you will find stories from fellow alumnae whose work is shaping their fields, artists and authors whose creativity continues to grow, volunteers whose generosity underpins so much of what we do, and memories from the archives that remind us how long this story has been unfolding. Very best wishes,

Vicky Bingham

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Welcome from the Director of Philanthropy and Alumnae Relations

hope that you enjoy this year’s edition of ONLINE magazine. For me, this is a particularly meaningful one, as this marks my first year as Director of Philanthropy and Alumnae Relations at North London Collegiate School and our theme, Amplify, feels especially fitting. We have worked hard to build on the foundation of our 175th year and this year has been one of growing, as a team and with the ONL community.

Over the past year, I have had the privilege of meeting alumnae across generations and continents - from journalism prize winners who graduated just last year to an Old North Londoner from the Class of 1954. Across their range of experience and life stage, the same qualities continually came to the fore; a deep-rooted confidence in one’s ability to succeed at anything they set their mind to, amplified by generosity of spirit and a desire to be helpful.

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Within these pages you will find voices that inform, inspire and connect, alongside stories of service, creativity and leadership. You will also see the impact of alumnae generosity - through volunteering, mentoring, advocacy and philanthropy - which continues to strengthen the School and its community. I hope this edition leaves you feeling proud, connected and inspired - and reminds you that your voice and your engagement remain a vital part of the NLCS story. With warmest wishes,

Shree Junk

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Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Welcome from the Head of Alumnae and Supporter Relations

ome of the most memorable moments from this past year have come from meeting or speaking with many of you - at events, during visits to school, or simply over a call or email. Hearing your stories and learning how NLCS continues to remain a part of your lives has been a privilege.

We often say that we carry our communities with us wherever we go and it feels especially true here. The ONL network has become broader and richer, embracing Honorary ONLs (former staff), Parents of ONLs and friends of the School - all connected by a shared sense of belonging. What feels particularly meaningful is seeing how that connection is being lived out. Over the last year, volunteering across our community has grown significantly. More of you are giving your time, sharing your experiences, and opening doors for others -

often quietly, but with real impact. There is something remarkably powerful in that collective willingness to step forward to make a difference. In my feature, From Moments to Movement I reflect on this through a wider lens of philanthropy - not simply as giving, but as a culture of contribution. Whether through time, talent, treasure, ties or testimony, these acts of service strengthen and extend the community we are all part of. As you explore this edition, I hope you recognise something of your own journey here - in the stories of those who came before, and those shaping what comes next. This is a community built on continuity as much as change: friendships that endure, values that travel, a shared commitment to staying connected. Thank you for the part you play in that, and for all the ways you continue to carry NLCS forward. With gratitude,

Sonal R Dhadphale

NLCS in Action

Each year at NLCS brings new ideas, fresh opportunities and much to celebrate, while the traditions and values that have defined the School for generations continue to shape our community. It is this balance between embracing new opportunities and honouring our heritage that makes NLCS what it is. In the pages that follow, we reflect on some of the moments that have shaped the past year and celebrate the talent and spirit of our students.

Surge Academy Inspiring the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs Funded fully by philanthropy, our inaugural year of Surge Academy kicked off with 92% of the year 12 students signing up to develop, pitch and launch ideas, learning from experts, including some of you!

Y3 Chiltern Open Air Museum Year 3 enjoyed a fantastic day at the Chiltern Open Air Museum, where they stepped back in time to explore life in the Mesolithic Stone Age and Iron Age.

NLCS Wins Independent Girls’ School of the Year 2025 This recognition belongs to our students, who approach every challenge with determination. It belongs to our teachers, whose dedication inspires excellence every day. It belongs to our parents, governors and you, our alumnae, whose belief in what we stand for has never faltered.

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Autumn Term

Anna Wintour Dame Anna Wintour returned to North London Collegiate School for the first time since leaving in 1965, spending the morning at Canons and speaking to the whole Senior School about building a life in fashion, media and the creative industries. Sunday Times North London Collegiate School is proud to have been named Independent Secondary School of the Year, Independent International Baccalaureate School of the Year and Independent Secondary School of the Year in London by The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026. In the accompanying Parent Power league tables, NLCS is ranked the number one girls’ school in the country and is placed second in London and third nationally across all schools.

ONLINE Magazine

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NLCS in Action

NLCS Sessions From Radiohead, Benson Boone and Adele to Frank Sinatra and songs from musicals including My Fair Lady, our Senior School girls absolutely rocked this year’s NLCS Sessions.

Year 5 VEX Starting with simple builds and ending in a lively competition day, Year 5 showed determination and real engineering flair in their VEX GO experience.

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House of Bernarda Alba Our Senior Production of The House of Bernarda Alba delivered a bold and ambitious interpretation of Lorca’s tightly wound drama, with the cast demonstrating sharp focus and a clear command of the material. It was a production that asked a lot of its performers, and they met those demands with confidence and conviction.

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Spring Term

STEAM Day As part of Giving Day 2026, our Lower School girls swapped the classroom for the outdoors during a STEAM Day, taking on a range of challenges including engineering, coding and collaborative activities across the School grounds.

Giving Day Our fourth Giving Day saw the most raised over the period, but even more impressive was the time and dedication the students and staff put in. Our Headmistress led ten staff members and ten Sixth Form students on a 17.6 km run from Camden to Canons. The Ideas Hub hosted a buzzing Giving Day Fair, and teachers showed their competitive flair in a special House Quiz Competition. Festivities were lifted even further by the legendary teacher lip sync battle, a much-loved highlight that captured the warmth and wit of the NLCS staff. In the Junior School, pupils explored generosity and service in thoughtful and imaginative ways, with the First School pupils engaging in mini debates about what it means to give.

ONLINE Magazine

Lacrosse Season This year our Lacrosse team made it to the semi-finals of the Lacrosse Nationals. This top four national finish represents the highest placing achieved by an NLCS lacrosse team ever.

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NLCS in Action

Vex Worlds The VEX World Championships marked a fitting conclusion to an exciting and demanding robotics season, with both NLCS teams representing the school with exceptional confidence on the global stage. Their achievements will continue to have an impact long after the competition, as they now take on the role of mentors, sharing their knowledge and experience with younger robotics students and inspiring the next generation of competitors.

Mini MUN Our Year 5 pupils took part in the Mini NLCS MUN Conference, stepping into the role of young diplomats to debate some of today’s most pressing global challenges.

Matilda There was energy, confidence and no shortage of mischief as Year 7 and 8 students took to the stage for a spirited production of Matilda Jr. delivering a performance packed with humour, pace and plenty of audience appeal.

First School Sports Day Our First School Rainbow Sports Day was a fantastic celebration of participation, teamwork and fun. The girls made their way around a carousel of exciting activities, collecting valuable points for their colour teams while encouraging one another every step of the way. The atmosphere was full of energy, laughter and smiling faces, with every child embracing the opportunity to be active and represent their team.

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Summer Term

Year 6 Play Congratulations to Year 6 for their beautiful and moving performance of ‘Tom’s Midnight Garden’ by David Wood, from the book by Philippa Pearce. The girls composed original music and songs for the production and in addition to all appearing on stage in an acting role, every girl took on another responsibility from operating sound and lights while not on stage, to choreographing a dance, making props, creating face paint designs or taking stage management duties.

Friends of Canons This Summer Term, every girl in the Junior School rolled up her sleeves and headed out to Canons armed with litter pickers, trowels, and plenty of enthusiasm, the girls transformed patches of the park. They built two bug hotels, brightened the Memorial Garden with new flowers, and helped enhance the park’s environment for visitors and wildlife alike.

Wellbeing Award NLCS has been awarded the Wellbeing Award for Schools, recognising the School’s whole-school approach to emotional wellbeing, pastoral care and student voice, and the culture of care that ensures students feel known, valued and supported throughout their journey at NLCS.

Cricket Champs It has been a standout summer for cricket at NLCS, with strong participation across all year groups. The U13 team secured a place in the Middlesex County Cup final, which will be played in September, while the U15 side reached the last 16 of the National Cup. The season’s headline achievement came from the U19 team, who were crowned 2026 Middlesex County Cup Champions.

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Welcome from the Honorary ONL Ambassador

t has been a privilege to visit NLCS on several occasions this year and share both familiar and new events with current staff, Honorary ONLs and of course, parents and students.

Even traditional activities and events have a fresh twist which seems to enhance their value. Audiences whose composition and size vary greatly according to the event, are always entranced by the quality of the performance resulting from the girls’ commitment and pride. I remember all too well how hard it is to find time for rehearsals but somehow the girls seem to get all the moving parts together and pull off their performance with aplomb in front of an audience! Events are particularly enjoyable when you are no longer responsible for them. Yet I hugely appreciate the many hours of hard work and dedication from all those involved. This edition’s theme of Amplify is certainly evident in all that I have seen recently…from the Snow Queen performed by the First School to joyful Canons Choir performances in the Royal Albert Hall, displays of outfits made from recycled materials in the 27th Fantasy Fashion

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Show and, most recently, an exceptional Middle School production of Matilda. After the grandeur of 175th Founder’s Day celebrations at St Paul’s Cathedral, there was something comforting about returning to traditional routines at Canons, now enhanced by the extra space provided by the Ideas Hub and the soft, new landscaping around it. I hope that you will enjoy reading about the activities of our community included in this edition. Honorary ONL articles are highly valued so be sure to tell us more about your post NLCS activities so that we can share in the joy of your latest passions and adventures. Warmest wishes,

Jo Newman

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Honorary ONLs

Meet Our New Honorary ONLs With warm gratitude, we welcome the following staff now as Honorary ONLs. Penelope Hill

Thomas Boase

Theatre Manager

Laura Boyask

International Projects Coordinators, NLCS International

Jennifer Bullock

Director of Marketing

Teaching Assistant, Junior School

Hanisha Kotecha

Director of Education Strategy, NLCS International

Andoni Baleato Mansilla

Laura Forsyth

Sean McCaul

Josh Herlihy

Debbie Nathan

Teacher of Spanish

Chair, NLCS International

Dionne Thomas School Nurse

Receptionist, Junior School

Teaching Assistant, Junior School

Retiring Staff Ian Callendar Chief Executive Officer, NLCS International What have you enjoyed most about working at NLCS? I have been very fortunate that my role, spanning both the UK school and international, provides me with great breadth and stimulation. I have been given the freedom and support to get on and deliver projects. My colleagues have always been incredibly supportive and great fun to work with. What was your favourite memory at North London? This is a surprisingly difficult choice, but I think the Junior School’s Christmas play was always my favourite – wonderful productions despite the wandering attention spans of the students! What will you miss and/or not miss about School life? I’ll miss the noise and scruffy exuberance of the students which continues almost oblivious to some of the challenges we have faced in the background – and of course, pear and chocolate crumble, NLCS’ signature dish! What advice would you give a new member of staff? Get involved in as much as possible early so you really get to know what makes the school tick, get exposure to the

ONLINE Magazine

Trainee Spanish Teacher

Angela Zellar

EDT Technician

Teacher Junior School

Rupa Shah

Lauren Sharp

Teacher, Junior School

Gwen Byrom

Teacher of EDT

Finance Officer

Elizabeth Leach

Teacher of History & Politics

Carlota Crivellari Rivas

students (if you are not a teacher!) go to events and make a point of meeting people in the staff room. The longer you stay in the school, the busier its gets and the less time you have! Which part of the School site is your favourite and why? I spent a great deal of time completing the school’s masterplan and overseeing the development of the Ideas Hub. As tortuous and drawn out as this project was, it has transformed the Dalkeith entrance, provided a unique teaching space, and added to the area around the pond, which I have always felt was the School’s heart. What are you looking forward to doing next? It’s quite daunting to retire after 43+ years of work – I have received all sorts of advice from making sure I have planned what I’m going to do, right through to recommendations to take time and learn how to retire. The first thing I’m doing is travelling to the Chinese Himalayas for a reset! I have two wonderful grandchildren with whom I will spend more time…. and then who knows what my next adventure will be – I have plenty of ideas!

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Honorary ONLs

Caroline Maquire Teacher of Music – Double Bass (VMT) What have you enjoyed most about working at NLCS? The pupils, without doubt. I don’t know if I was just lucky, or whether all the girls are as rewarding to teach as my pupils have been. Not only the musically exceptional ones (of which there are many) but also those who just enjoy it and try their hardest. …and my colleagues in the music department. I have made some special friends. It is a close-knit department and it is so inspiring to share ideas with such a talented group of musicians. What was your favourite memory at North London? It has to be the concerts. I cannot pick just one, as they have all been so special. It is a chance to hear all the other instruments and groups, and every time I am amazed at the high standard and the joyful energy of the girls. What will you miss and/or not miss about School life? I will miss the laughter in the music staff room - and the lunch! I will not miss the early commute and the admin! What advice would you give your students and/or a new member of staff? To my students, I would say “Just keep going!” There will be times when you doubt yourself and feel overwhelmed with the academic work, revision and exams. Talk to your music teacher and together agree on a gentle path that will see you through the tough times. If you stop, you will regret it forever. To a new music teacher I would say “communication is the key to everything”. Communicate with your colleagues and Head of Music and share problems promptly. Parents also appreciate short but regular emails, and I have found this works brilliantly for me too. Which part of the School site is your favourite and why? My favourite place is the lake. A few minutes standing watching the fish, or an occasional heron is a welcome source of mindfulness. What are you looking forward to doing next? Visiting my brother in Australia this summer. Having more time to bake and tend to my garden. I would also like to join a choir.

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Janet Ball Teacher of PE What have you enjoyed most about working at NLCS? I have enjoyed the fact that in PE we teach from Reception through to Year 13 and it is wonderful being able to see the students progress and develop their skills over the years. What was your favourite memory at North London? I have many great memories of my time at NLCS, however having the opportunity to accompany the Lacrosse tour to Canada and visit Toronto, Québec & Montreal. What will you miss and/or not miss about School life? I will miss the wonderful students and colleagues and the lovely lunches, especially the pear and chocolate crumble! What advice would you give your students and/or a new member of staff? To the students - take advantage of the many and varied opportunities on offer. Remember to be inquisitive and challenge yourselves. Continue to support each other and be kind. Which part of the School site is your favourite and why? The lacrosse pitches with the lovely view of the Old House. What are you looking forward to doing next? I am excited for the future and have lots planned to include some travel and looking after my granddaughter. In the first instance I will be in Scotland watching the Commonwealth Games and in September touring the North Coast 500.

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Kathleen Summers Teacher of Music - Singing (VMT)

Honorary ONLs

What was your favourite memory at North London? Choosing my favourite memory is very difficult, but it does warm my heart to see the joy and delight on the faces of pupils who have had a super Singing lesson, done well in their Singing Examinations, successfully auditioned for a part in the school musical, finally nailed a part of a song that they have found very challenging, or been offered a choral scholarship to Oxford or Cambridge. What will you miss and/or not miss about School life? I will miss seeing the faces, friendships and camaraderie of colleagues that one sees on a weekly basis, but hopefully we will meet up socially from time to time. I will not miss having to physically leave the car (especially in inclement weather) to use my lanyard to open gates that no longer seem to have working vehicle registration recognition. I will not miss the changes in IT systems that happen without any notice and turn one’s world completely upside down. Neither will I miss my timetable, which has to be submitted by Thursday for the following week, being turned into chaos because an extra event has been slotted into the school calendar without any notice, resulting in a pupil or pupils being unavailable for their Singing lesson. What advice would you give your students and/or a new member of staff? To my pupils I say “Keep on singing!”. Pass or fail, the world never stops but with determination, hard work and vision you will have your reward. Go out into the world with confidence! Which part of the School site is your favourite and why? Being that for most of my time at NLCS the Music Department has stood separate from the rest of the School, I have rarely ventured into the main building, but for me the lily pond with its beautiful fountain is my favourite part of NLCS. I have seen the pond partially frozen in winter, with goslings, moorhen chicks, and herons, together and the perfection of the amazing floating water lilies. What a start to one’s day!

What have you enjoyed most about working at NLCS? I became part of the Vocal Faculty at NLCS in 2003, with dear David Pod as Head of Department. As the end of the Autumn term in 2004 approached, I suddenly became very seriously ill, and had to undergo surgery just before Christmas that year, followed by a series of treatments. I still wanted to try to continue working. The Head of the Music department was now Mr Haigh, and together with his support and that of all the other instrumental teachers there at the time, I was able to continue enjoying the buzz and excitement of making music with the girls, imparting the knowledge and skills I had learnt over the years, helping to increase their confidence, improving their life skills, and helping them project their skills and talents to the outside world. There’s more to singing!

ONLINE Magazine

What are you looking forward to doing next? I am looking forward to having more time to enjoy my new apartment, which I bought in February, in the Sherwood Forest area of Nottinghamshire, which is my home turf and where I have family and friends; to be able to share it with my husband when he retires next year; to spending more time working in our garden; seeing more of my friends; and to familiarising myself again with places that I loved to visit but that both work and other commitments have put on hold, as well as exploring new ones. To my colleagues, friends and pupils, I thank you all for helping make this journey of twenty-three years at NLCS so rewarding. May you continue to embrace the joy and thrills of making live music and the rewards it brings and I raise a glass to you all. Cheers!

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Honorary ONLs

Lindsey Garsin Teaching Assistant, Junior School What have you enjoyed most about working at NLCS? I have loved watching the girls grow in confidence and flourish as they move throughout the school. Working with such a wonderful team of people has also made every day enjoyable and rewarding and I value the lifelong friendships I have made. What was your favourite memory of your time at North London? There have been so many special memories over the years, but one that really stands out is being part of the NLCS 175th anniversary Founder’s Day celebration at St Paul’s Cathedral in March last year. Seeing all those daffodils, hearing our amazing choir and orchestra along with seeing some of my former students from my very first year at NLCS made it a truly special day. What will you miss and/or not miss about School life? I will miss the smiles, laughter, enthusiasm and resilience of the girls as well as being part of such a special school community. What I won’t miss? Lunch duty has to be at the top of the list! What advice would you give your students and/ or a new member of staff? To the girls, I would say be kind, try your best and believe in yourselves - you are capable of far more than you realise. To a new member of staff, I’d say enjoy each day, build relationships, be flexible and remember that no two days are ever the same!

Sue Johnson Teaching Assistant, Junior School What have you enjoyed most about working at NLCS? Partnering with teachers to create a classroom where the children blossom and thrive. No two days are ever exactly alike. It has been such a rewarding school to work in. What was your favourite memory at North London? I felt very honoured when I was asked to meet King Charles (then Prince Charles). He came to visit the School in 2006, and I was lucky enough to be one of the members of staff to say hello to him. It was amazing. I have also had the privilege of accompanying the school choir this year to various events. They have been truly inspiring. What will you miss and/or not miss about School life? I will miss the community of working with colleagues at NLCS. Also, the pure joy of watching the children flourish. What advice would you give your students and/or a new member of staff? To the students – never stop believing in yourself, and do not be afraid to make mistakes. To colleagues – enjoy your time at NLCS; you are part of a big family. Time goes by so quickly.

Which part of the School site is your favourite and why? I find peace and calm in nature, so it has to be the school grounds especially around big cedar, the herbaceous border in full bloom and Lime Avenue. Even on the coldest and dreariest days, taking time out for a quick walk clears my head and lifts my spirits.

Which part of the School site is your favourite and why? The wildlife pond in the First School. I planted oxygenating plants from the wildlife pond in my garden, together with some yellow flag iris, which flowers every year in spring. The pond has been used on numerous occasions by the children, who have enjoyed sweeping their nets through the water during pond-dipping sessions to discover lots of different pond life.

What are you looking forward to doing next? I really enjoy travelling and exploring new places so at the top of my list is booking a trip that isn’t during the school holidays with my husband. I’m looking forward to taking an art and language course, spending more quality time with my family especially my four young grandchildren and I may even get a dog in the new year!

What are you looking forward to doing next? I have lots of different things I’m looking forward to. For example, I am very keen on watercolour painting. I also take pride in tending to my wildlife garden. I will enjoy some holidays and family time. I will be pursuing my dream of acquiring a dog. I will also find the time to nip back to NLCS as a supply Teaching Assistant.

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Honorary ONLs

Lyn Feldman Teaching Assistant Lead, Junior School What have you enjoyed most about working at NLCS? The people at NLCS have made my 27 years so special. I have loved working alongside such talented supportive colleagues and supporting generations of curious, enthusiastic girls from Reception to Year 3 making every day rewarding. What was your favourite memory at North London? It’s difficult to choose just one but my happiest moments were seeing students grow in confidence and celebrating their achievements together as a community, overcoming challenges and sharing in their success. What will you miss and/or not miss about School life? I’ll miss the girls, my amazing colleagues, and the sense of belonging that comes from being part of the NLCS family. I won’t miss the early mornings or the constant rushing from one thing to the next. What advice would you give your students and/or a new member of staff? Girls - remember to stay curious, be kind and never be afraid to ask questions. New staff - remember that the small things you do every day can make a lasting difference to a young child’s life. Which part of the School site is your favourite and why? The First School Hall is the space where we all come together to learn, reflect and connect with each other. It’s where we’ve laughed and learnt together both with the girls and as staff. What are you looking forward to doing next? A slower pace of life, spending more with family and friends (and Coco) and taking care of myself. Although I am retiring, I will always look back on my years at NLCS with enormous gratitude and very happy memories - keep living the dream and remember, love you lots and jelly tots!

ONLINE Magazine

Lyn Degnan Senior School Administrator What have you enjoyed most about working at NLCS? That’s easy – the people and the friends I have made. What was your favourite memory at North London? My favourite memory was when the newly formed senior school office won the best Christmas-decorated office award. What will you miss and/or not miss about School life? I will miss seeing my friends and the NLCS community as a whole every day but I will not miss setting my alarm! What advice would you give your students and/or a new member of staff? Don’t know about this one…. Which part of the School site is your favourite and why? School site – has to be the music department, best department in the school! What are you looking forward to doing next? I am looking forward to a slower pace of life but still full of things to keep me busy.

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Alumnae Team Feature

From Moments to Movement

Amplifying the NLCS Global Legacy

his year, something rather special has been happening across the ONL Community. More and more of you have been getting involved: returning to School, sharing your experiences, offering advice, making introductions and finding thoughtful ways to support others. In fact, the number of volunteer engagements has more than doubled over the course of this academic year. It is an achievement we can all feel proud of, although the figure itself tells only a small part of the story. What matters most are the people behind it: the conversations that have taken place, the relationships that have begun and the opportunities that have opened as a result. Each act has looked different. Some have involved speaking to a room full of students; others have begun with a single email, telephone call or introduction. Together, they are creating something much bigger and turning individual moments of generosity into a growing movement across our community. We have seen how one voice can amplify another, how one connection can travel further than expected and how sharing an experience can help someone else feel more confident about their own. The stories that follow are only a handful among many, but together they offer a glimpse of the generosity, imagination and goodwill that run through the ONL Community. For Fiona Wilson (ONL 1990), volunteering began with the

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Sonal Sachdev Patel (ONL 1998) - Speaker at Surge

opportunity to give back to a place that had once given her so much. “A music bursary enabled me to receive the outstanding NLCS education back in the ’80s,” she explains, “so when the ONL team asked me to come and help the Year 10s find their voices for a day of stand-up comedy, I jumped at the chance.” She remembers the students as energetic, intelligent and wonderfully quick, but it was the brief conversations with

Issue 29 / Summer 2026

From Moments to Movement ONLs at the Year 12 Universities Fair

Giving Day, March 2026

£85

£1K

Proud to be a ONL. Wonderful school memories. This is my contribution to “50 year gift from 1976 leavers.*

With thanks to NLCS and its many wonderful teachers past and present for giving our daughter a wonderful time and education 2012-2022, including through the very difficult times of the Covid pandemic.

Alison Walsh 2 weeks ago

THE BURSARY FUND

Julian Watts

2 weeks ago

THE BURSARY FUND

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Alumnae Team Feature

individuals that stayed with her most: a student learning Italian arias, another preparing for a drama examination, and one who cheerfully pointed out that her mother had not even been born when Fiona started at NLCS! They were small exchanges, perhaps, but meaningful ones. As Fiona put it, it was “a lovely morning spent in the company of impressive individual characters. And voices.” There is something rather lovely about the circle in Fiona’s story. A music bursary once opened a door for her; years later, she returned to help another generation find its voice. Those voices are an important part of this story. Volunteering is not only about offering expertise; it can also mean sharing something personal, sometimes for the first time. When Maddie Alberg (ONL 2020) took part in the first NLCS Neurodiversity Society SEND Conference as a panellist, she spoke openly about growing up with dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADD. It was the first time she had shared many of those experiences aloud. What followed was a thoughtful and, at times, emotional conversation among students, parents, staff and panellists. Some parents spoke about their own experiences of learning differences; others were looking for ways to better understand and advocate for their children. Afterwards, one parent wrote to tell Maddie that hearing from someone with lived experience had offered both perspective and hope. “You never know the impact you can have, even on just one person,” Maddie reflected. For her, the panel was also a reminder that the qualities she had once struggled against had become strengths in her studies and career. “The way you learn is not a limitation. It is, eventually, what sets you apart.” Maddie’s story is a reminder of how much can come from sharing the perspective we have gained over time, particularly when it might make another person’s journey feel less uncertain. Sometimes the impact of that generosity is immediate and practical. Through the Alumnae team, Ria Patel (ONL 2020) was introduced to an ONL working in the exact medical field she hoped to pursue. The connection led to an observership that formed part of her degree requirements and offered valuable insight into her chosen career. The relationship has since continued through mentoring. What stands out about Ria’s story is that the support has not stopped with her. She has already helped current students prepare for medical-school interviews and hopes to continue supporting future ONLs throughout her career. “I hope to continue paying this kindness forward,” she says.

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That sense of passing something on, of receiving support and then finding our own way to offer it appears again and again across the network. It can also make a real difference when an ONL is far from home. When Artemiz Van Den Broucke (ONL 2021) moved to Brussels for her master’s degree, she found herself navigating not only a new city, but also the challenge of building a career without an established local network. Through the Alumnae team, she was introduced to Susan Chaney, née Danger (ONL 1981), who had built an impressive career in Brussels as CEO of AmCham EU. Their conversations soon became far more than conventional networking. Susan offered practical, focused support, helping Artemiz tailor her CV and cover letter for a role in EU–UK trade – guidance that helped her secure a job offer. As Artemiz describes it, the connection became “a great milestone” in her Brussels adventure. She now encourages other ONLs moving abroad, or already living overseas, to reach out to the ONL network around them. Her story reflects something we increasingly see: the ONL Community may begin at Canons, but it extends far beyond it. Wherever we find ourselves, there may be someone

Nayani Anpalagan (ONL 2010)

Issue 29 / Summer 2026

From Moments to Movement

The students were highly engaged, and the chance to hear directly from a professional writer was described as “invaluable”. These are the kinds of moments we hope to create more often in which knowledge is shared freely and new possibilities begin to feel a little more tangible. The same spirit can be seen in the support given to the Bursary Fund. For Nayani Appalagan (ONL 2010), receiving a bursary had an impact that extended far beyond her years at School. “The bursary I received didn’t just open a door; it gave me a foundation. It showed me what was possible, regardless of background or circumstance. Without it, I don’t know where I’d be. I owe so much to the school, to the people who believed in bursaries, and to the culture that made it possible for someone like me to thrive.” Her words capture the lasting reach of that support: not only the education it made possible, but the confidence to imagine where it might lead.

Emma Levy (ONL 2002) – Guest Speaker at Class of 2026 Valedictory

nearby who understands something of where we have come from and is willing to help us take the next step. This can be seen closer to home. When Ali Harris, née Bell (ONL 1982) moved to Edinburgh in 2021 and found there was no ONL Scotland group, she thought she might simply start one. One email and a Zoom call later, the group began to take shape; it now connects around 35 ONLs through Founder’s Day lunches, museum visits, coastal walks, pottery decorating and even a paddle steamer trip! That generosity is also reaching beyond NLCS. During a recent visit to the School, students from The Sacred Heart Language College heard Amy Baxter (ONL 2015) speak about her journey from working in publishing to becoming an author. Her honesty about the creative process and the realities of the industry brought the subject to life, giving pupils an opportunity to ask questions and imagine where their own interest in reading and writing might lead. At St Gregory’s Catholic Science College, bestselling author Jane Corry, née Thomas (ONL 1974), shared her career journey with Year 12 students, explaining how her earlier jobs had influenced her writing and speaking candidly about what it takes to build a career as an author.

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During Giving Day, messages from across the wider NLCS community reflected that same sense of contribution. Rachel Rushbrook (ONL 1998 and member of staff) wrote that she was “delighted to support the Bursary Fund and help more girls have access to the fantastic experience at NLCS”, while Kate Kieran, Honorary ONL, celebrated the part played by the whole NLCS community. One of the most rewarding parts of my work is helping make these connections - bringing together people whose knowledge, perspective or encouragement might be valuable to one another and then watching where that first conversation leads. As we look ahead, we would love to continue creating opportunities that reflect the many different ways people may wish to take part. For some, that might mean mentoring, speaking at an event, reviewing a CV, answering a question, making an introduction or offering an hour of their time. For others, it may be sharing a personal reflection, suggesting an idea we have not yet considered, or offering support through a donation. We would love to hear what you might value from the ONL network, what you would enjoy sharing or what you think we could explore next. Please write to us at onla@nlcs.org. uk. Together, we are turning moments into movement, and I cannot wait to see where it takes us next. Sonal R Dhadphale Head of Alumnae and Supporter Relations

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Class of 2025

This photograph have been reproduced by kind permission of The School Photography Company and can be ordered online at Photo ID: BE47HT9M / Photo key: CNC3ULP0

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Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Meet Our New ONLs

Class of 2026

This photograph have been reproduced by kind permission of The School Photography Company and can be ordered online at Photo ID: H68CCUV8 / Photo key: FY0Q6FYY

Alumnae Voices

Dame Anna Wintour (ONL 1967)

A Conversation With... Dame Anna Wintour (ONL 1967) Returning to NLCS in November 2025, Dame Anna sat down with Year 13 student Emma Simmonds to share her memories of School, her extraordinary career and the values that have guided her along the way. 30 ONLINE Magazine

Issue 29 / Summer 2026

A Conversation With Dame Anna Wintour (ONL 1967)

1. Dame Anna, welcome back! How does it feel to be back? Extremely weird. I feel as though I’m here under false pretenses because I was probably the worst student the school ever had. I avoided swimming, didn’t do well academically, and never imagined I would return in this way. I also haven’t been back since I was your age, so it feels emotional and very special to be invited. 2. My research about your time at North London revealed you rolled up your skirt and rebelled against the uniform; is this an indication that you saw fashion as a way of expressing yourself even then? I think I was a difficult teenager. We had an extremely formal uniform, including a hideous beret, and in the 1960s that felt out of step with the huge social and cultural changes happening around us. Teachers checked skirt lengths, so naturally we rolled them up. Fashion was becoming a way for people to express individuality, and the class system itself was changing. I’ve never been very enthusiastic about dark brown uniforms, but it was less about fashion ambition and more about reacting to the times we were living through. 3. You’ve had a remarkable career and are at the very pinnacle of your field. For the girls here who hope to excel in their chosen fields, what advice would you offer about establishing themselves and being taken seriously in their careers? Don’t be in a hurry. Take time to discover what you enjoy and what you are good at, and don’t be afraid to change direction. People often feel pressure to succeed very young, but learning your craft matters far more. Work with people you admire, find mentors, and stay open to experience. My early career in British publishing taught me a huge amount because our teams were small. At Harpers & Queen I had to do everything - writing captions, designing pages, booking photographers and models, covering the market. When I later moved to New York, where roles were highly specialised, I realised how valuable it was to understand the entire process. That broad knowledge gave me confidence and perspective.

4. Many people claim that the fashion industry is difficult to ‘break into’ without connections. What do you suggest to those who want to work in fashion but don’t know where to begin? Many young people now believe success should happen quickly because social media creates the illusion that visibility equals achievement. Having followers does not automatically create a lasting career. You need a clear vision, a strong business plan, and an understanding of your own point of view. The designers who endure are the ones who tell compelling stories. People still remember John Galliano’s student collection because it had imagination and narrative. Whatever career you choose, storytelling matters. It isn’t enough simply to make a beautiful dress or shoe. You need to ask yourself what makes your work distinct from everybody else’s. Don’t obsess over what others are doing around you. Focus on your own perspective. The best designers create complete worlds. John Galliano, for example, fills notebooks with research gathered from his travels. Every model in his shows has a character and backstory, which gives the collection emotional depth. That sense of identity and imagination is what makes fashion memorable. 5. We’ve seen a number of major leadership and creative shifts at the big fashion houses this year. What do you think this signals about the broader direction of the industry? The fashion industry has experienced extraordinary change recently. A great deal of it began after the loss of Karl Lagerfeld, whose long tenure at Chanel and Fendi represented stability. Once that central figure disappeared, change accelerated everywhere.

So don’t stay in one lane. Be curious about the world beyond your immediate field. Read books, go to museums, watch films, follow politics and culture. Creativity doesn’t happen in isolation. Chance encounters can also transform lives. Years ago, a student on a flight handed me a note asking for help finding an internship. I contacted my friend Michael Kors, who offered him an opportunity. That student, Lazaro Hernandez, later co-founded Proenza Schouler, one of America’s most successful fashion houses, and has since gone on to lead Loewe. I tell that story because opportunities often come from unexpected moments. Be brave enough to ask, take risks, and stay open to possibility.

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Alumnae Voices

I’ve never seen so many creative leadership changes at once. Part of this came from the industry becoming complacent after Covid. Luxury prices became too high, companies relied heavily on China, and many businesses struggled financially. Fashion entered a worldwide slowdown. As a result, the major companies realised they needed fresh thinking. We saw around fourteen or fifteen new creative directors in one season, which is extremely unusual. But I think the change has been healthy. The collections this season felt energetic and creative in a way we hadn’t seen for some time. People often fear change, even in an industry built on innovation. Yet change is essential. AI, for example, is already transforming journalism and fashion, but it also creates opportunities. For anyone beginning a career, it is important not to fear change but to embrace it and learn from it. 6. Every year, the Met Gala brings myself and everyone I know together, as we obsess over each outfit and debate whether we liked it or not. And now with Vogue World, what do you think this suggests about fashion as a form of entertainment?

Dame Anna Wintour (ONL 1967)

contributes significantly to economies around the world. I’ve spent years advocating for fashion to be recognised as seriously as other creative industries. During a recent visit to Downing Street, I argued that fashion deserved more governmental support alongside the performing arts. The Met Gala itself evolved gradually. Oscar de la Renta first encouraged me to become involved, and initially I thought I would only do it for a year or two. Over time, the collaboration between Condé Nast and the Metropolitan Museum developed into something much larger. The exhibition that truly transformed the Met Gala was the Alexander McQueen exhibition in 2011. The timing was powerful because McQueen had recently died and the Princess of Wales had worn Sarah Burton for McQueen at her wedding just before the exhibition opened. Public interest exploded, and that helped establish the Met red carpet as a major cultural event.

The Mets’ going be on my tombstone. What did she do? She created the Met - Yes.

One of my favourite exhibitions was Heavenly Bodies, which explored the influence of the Catholic Church on fashion. Convincing the Vatican to participate required endless meetings in Rome because communication was extremely difficult. Eventually they agreed, and we even arranged for the Vatican choir to perform.

People often focus on the glamour of fashion and dismiss it as superficial entertainment, but fashion is also a major global industry that employs enormous numbers of people and

Then, two weeks before the event, the choir withdrew because the boys needed to focus on exams. Desperate for entertainment, I asked Baz Luhrmann for help, and he

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Issue 29 / Summer 2026

A Conversation With Dame Anna Wintour (ONL 1967)

suggested calling Madonna. Amazingly, she agreed to perform dressed as a monk singing Like a Virgin.

performers. It also raised significant money for young fashion students.

Just before the event, however, the Vatican choir changed its mind and arrived after all. So the evening ended up featuring both Madonna and the choir. One image that has stayed with me is watching the choir sing beautifully in front of Rihanna dressed as the Pope. It perfectly captured the strange magic of the Met Gala.

After its success, we brought Vogue World to London in response to cuts to the performing arts. Andrew Lloyd Webber provided one of his theatres, and we combined opera, dance, theatre, music, and fashion in a way that celebrated British creativity while raising millions for arts organisations.

7. At North London we hold an annual event called Fantasy Fashion, a charity fundraiser, founded by ONL Stephanie Lee in 1996 where the students design dresses according to a theme, this year, Traditions and Transformations, and then model them. I wondered if you had any advice for the students involved, regarding what makes a catwalk exciting or special.

We then brought Vogue World to Paris ahead of the Olympics. I was frustrated by predictions that Paris would fail to manage the Games, so during a dinner at the Élysée Palace I approached President Macron directly and proposed staging Vogue World in the Place Vendôme to celebrate French fashion and support young athletes. He publicly announced the event before anyone could discourage him from saying yes.

The most important thing is originality. Many fashion shows blur together because they lack a clear identity. What makes a catwalk memorable is the story behind it. That story should influence everything: the clothes, the casting, the music, the set design, and the atmosphere. You want the audience to understand the world you are creating. Some of the strongest ideas emerge during difficult moments. Vogue World was born after the pandemic, when New York felt devastated and the fashion community needed optimism and energy again. I wanted to recreate the vibrant mix of people you see in Central Park and bring that spirit back into the city. The first Vogue World became a huge street celebration featuring athletes, dancers, musicians, models, and

Most recently, Vogue World went to Hollywood because the film industry there has been struggling badly. Production has increasingly moved elsewhere, leaving many studios empty. We decided to honour seven Oscar-winning female costume designers by pairing them with fashion designers inspired by their work. Then the fires in Los Angeles made the event feel even more urgent, so the show also raised money for film professionals who had lost their homes. What connects all of these events is storytelling and purpose. Fashion can bring people together, raise money, support communities, and create cultural conversations. The industry itself has also changed completely since I began in journalism. When I first arrived at Vogue in New York, publishing revolved almost entirely around print. Now we create content across social media, podcasts, livestreams, digital platforms, video, and events. The challenge is always to ask how a brand like Vogue can communicate through all these different forms while still maintaining its own identity. And of course, the biggest conversation today is AI and how it will transform creativity and media. But whatever changes technologically, human connection is so valuable. Dame Anna Wintour CH DBE is one of the most influential figures in fashion and media best known for leading American Vogue for more than three decades. She now serves as Global Chief Content Officer and Artistic Director at Condé Nast, and is widely credited with turning the Met Gala into one of the biggest events in global pop-culture phenomenon. Emma Simmons, 18, sat her A Levels this summer and served as Chair of the Art and Design Senior Society at NLCS. A passionate fashion lover, her standout moment has been interviewing Dame Anna - an experience she will never forget. She goes on to study Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at UAL in September.

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Alumnae Voices

Hephzibah Rudofsky, née Kohn (ONL 1982)

A Beacon of Hope Me with my mother, Zahava Kohn

families like ours, silence was a form of protection, a way to build a future without letting the past consume it. What I inherited were fragments - gestures, silences, things left unsaid. As a pupil at NLCS, I had no real sense of the details of my mother’s history. I had no idea that one day I would stand before students, sharing my family’s past. How could I? A turning point came in 2001, after the death of my grandmother, Rosy Kanarek. My mother was sorting through her room in the care home where she had lived, when she discovered a small bag tucked deep inside a cupboard. It became clear that my grandmother had carried the enclosed items with her through the camps, and across the many places where she lived afterwards.

Inside was a remarkable archive: wartime letters, photographs, documents stamped with Nazi insignia, ration cards, certificates, and personal belongings she had somehow miraculously preserved throughout her long imprisonment.

s William Faulkner wrote in his 1951 novel Requiem for a Nun, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past”. In our home, the past was always present but never spoken, never acknowledged.

I am the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. My mother, Zahava Kohn, never spoke about her wartime experiences. Her survival was not a narrative, either written or voiced, but an atmosphere - a quiet presence that shaped our family without explanation. Only much later did I understand that for many survivor

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Among the objects were three tin bowls, which my mother, grandmother, and grandfather used in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where starvation, disease and death were rampant. There was also a yellow Star of David that Jews had been forced to wear in Nazi-occupied Europe, the Dutch word Jood printed starkly at its centre. These objects were fragile yet carried extraordinary strength. They were proof of survival of a life lived in unimaginable conditions. That bag unlocked something in my mother. Gently encouraged, she began to speak, first hesitantly, then with the quiet clarity that came to define her voice. She wrote a memoir, published in 2009, and around that time we created an educational programme for schools. She would never have created such a thing herself, but she agreed to participate, and for the first time, spoke publicly about her wartime experiences. I stood alongside her as facilitator, prompt and support, witnessing how her calm, dignified voice held the attention of thousands of young people. My mother’s voice, quiet but strong made the past feel close. Together, we visited hundreds of schools across the UK and Germany. Our young audiences came from every background,

Issue 29 / Summer 2026

A Beacon of Hope

faith, and community, yet the atmosphere was always the same: a shared recognition that they were hearing from someone who had lived through history. Artefacts from my grandmother’s bag brought her story to life in vivid, tactile detail. When students held the tin bowls or examined the Star of David and the other artefacts, the past became tangible. It moved beyond words into something they could touch - something real and immediate. Since my mother’s passing, I have become the custodian of her testimony and of the archive my grandmother had protected. For years, I wondered what would happen when she was no longer here to speak. How could I keep her voice alive? The answer lies in the recordings she made, the testimonies she gave, the programme we built together, and in the work I continue. I write now as the daughter of a survivor, carrying forward a legacy that has shaped my life, helping others understand what happens when festering hatred runs unchecked. As the years pass and the number of living survivors diminishes, the weight of inherited memory grows heavier, but also more precious. For descendants, testimony is not simply historical evidence; it is a legacy of love, duty, and profound respect. The stories entrusted to us must be protected so they can continue to resonate - so that silence does not become erasure, and absence does not end in forgetting.

ensuring that the quiet strength of my mother’s testimony continues to touch those who hear it, those who share it, and those who choose to remember. I tell her story to amplify its inspiring message of hope so that the warning of history will prevail – and to ensure that her voice endures, a beacon, a shining light of hope. Hephzibah Rudofsky, (née Kohn), ONL 1982 read Geography at the London School of Economics. She subsequently trained as a Clinical Research Associate and spent several years designing and supervising clinical trials for the pharmaceutical industry in London and Switzerland. In 2006, her growing interest in Holocaust education led to her appointment as Schools Tour Director for an innovative theatre production on the Holocaust, a role that deepened her commitment to education in this field. In 2009, she founded Surviving the Holocaust, an educational programme inspired by the memoir and testimony of her mother, Lady Zahava Kohn. Since Zahava’s death, Hephzibah has continued the programme independently, speaking to thousands of students across the UK and in Germany. Her work has been recognised with the Freedom of the City of London and a Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award. She is married with two children.

My mother continues to inspire me - not only because she found the courage to speak, but because of the person she became in spite of all she had endured. Her resilience, her warmth, her kindness, her strength of character, and her determination to build a life shaped not by hatred but by hope, have guided me more than she ever knew. It is her example, as much as her story, that compels me to continue this work. There are many ways survivor testimonies endure: through museums, interviews, books, and films. They travel across borders and generations. But the legacy carried by the children and grandchildren of survivors is something uniquely personal - not a story we chose, but one we are entrusted with. It is a responsibility that deepens over time and grows more urgent with every passing day. Antisemitism and other forms of irrational ethnic and religious hatred are rising once again. History warns us of the disastrous consequences that can erupt when hatred goes unchallenged. To share these stories and to protect them is not only an act of remembrance, but an act of vigilance. For me, the heart of this work is passing on her story. It is

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Presenting My Family’s Story

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Alumnae Voices

Ruth Yimika Afolabi (ONL 2006)

Beyond Ambition! Why possibility, purpose and conviction matter just as much as achievement

was always fascinated by stories as a teenager and a key memory of my time at NLCS was Senior Societies. Every Thursday at lunch, we heard from remarkable people from different industries and walks of life. They shared their experiences, careers and perspectives, opening our eyes to possibilities many of us had never considered. For a naturally curious young woman, these sessions were invaluable. They exposed me to different worlds, different careers and different ways of thinking about success. Those conversations reinforced an idea that has stayed with me ever since: there is no single blueprint for a meaningful life.

The more people I listened to, the more I realised that success came in many forms. Excellence wasn’t confined to one industry, one background or one type of person. There were countless ways to make a contribution, countless ways to build a life and countless ways to leave a mark. The people who inspired me most came from completely different worlds, but they shared many of the same qualities: curiosity, resilience and a commitment to continual growth. Meeting people from such varied backgrounds also reinforced another idea. Success wasn’t simply about what someone did. It was about how they approached life, how they responded to challenges and how they treated the people around them. Perhaps that’s why I spent less time thinking about a specific job title and more time thinking about the kind of woman I wanted to become. I admired people who were excellent at what they did, but I was equally interested in how they carried themselves, how they treated others and how they responded when things didn’t go to plan. I’ve always cared as much about who I was becoming as what I was achieving, and that question has guided many of my decisions ever since. At a school where academic excellence was the norm, curiosity was equally encouraged. We were taught to ask questions, challenge assumptions and engage with ideas. More importantly, we were surrounded by young women who took their ambitions seriously. There was an expectation that we would contribute to the world around us, not simply observe it.

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By the time I arrived at Durham to study Politics, I had become fascinated by the idea that stories could expand people’s sense of what was possible. During my time there, I started a media platform and network called Magnify which has evolved into a global brand. It was an ambitious thing to do. I had very little experience, few connections and no roadmap to follow. What I did have was conviction and a belief that stories could help people see new possibilities for themselves. Starting something from scratch never felt unusual. I had spent years surrounded by intelligent, capable young women who expected to contribute, lead and build. The idea that we could create opportunities rather than wait for them felt entirely natural. Looking back, what feels most

Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Beyond Ambition!

Magnify Dinner significant is not that I started something young, but that I never questioned whether I should try. In many ways, that confidence reflected the school’s own history. As the first girls’ school in the UK, NLCS was founded on a bold belief: that girls deserved the same intellectual opportunities as boys. Challenging convention and expanding possibilities are woven into the school’s DNA, and perhaps that’s why taking an unconventional path felt less daunting than it otherwise might have. Through my work, I’ve met people from many different backgrounds and stages of life. Some have achieved extraordinary success. Others have made a profound impact in quieter ways. I’ve spent much of my life fascinated by people who achieve exceptional things. What I’ve come to appreciate is that the most impressive among them pair ambition with integrity, resilience and a clear sense of purpose. We often celebrate recognition, influence and status, yet the people who leave the deepest impression are rarely defined by achievement alone. They remain curious, continue learning and stay grounded in their values whilst pursuing big goals. Their success is not simply measured by what they accomplish, but by the way they accomplish it. The women who inspire me most combine excellence with integrity. They are driven but generous, ambitious but thoughtful. They care deeply about their work, but they also care about the people around them. Their lives demonstrate that success is not simply about what we achieve, but who we become in the process. With the theme of Amplify, I find myself returning to the qualities that first fascinated me as a teenager. Not achievement for its own sake, but the qualities such as excellence, resilience, character and curiosity that lie behind success and the willingness to keep learning when nobody is watching and to keep going when things become difficult. These qualities rarely attract the same attention as awards, titles or public success, yet they shape the people we become and the impact we leave behind and most importantly they influence how we lead, how we serve others and how we navigate both success and disappointment.

Ruth Yimika Afolabi, née Awogbade (ONL 2006) is the Founder and CEO of Magnify, a media platform and global network dedicated to helping women build ambitious, aligned and audacious lives. She launched the organisation at the age of 19 whilst studying Politics at Durham University and has spent the past 17 years creating conversations, content and experiences that inspire women to realise their potential and expand their sense of what is possible. Alongside her work with Magnify, Ruth is a Brand Strategist who advises founders, entrepreneurs and brands on strategy, positioning and storytelling. She is passionate about helping individuals and organisations build distinctive brands that create meaningful impact and long-term value. A former student of North London Collegiate School, Ruth previously worked at Burberry and combines her interests in media, business, storytelling and culture through her work. She lives in London with her husband and two children and remains fascinated by excellence, resilience and the journeys that shape exceptional people.

Success is not simply about what we achieve, but who we become.

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Alumnae Voices

Sharmila Sani, née Nandwani (ONL 1990)

Amplify…Yourself! Speaking at the Children’s Hope India Girls School, Bhopal, India Firstly, let’s talk about what success means. I would venture to suggest that for many, success means having a prestigious job and fulfilling the infinite desires for toys which reflect the prestige of that job. However, in truth, attaining that job and attaining those toys are both out of your control. There is a tremendous amount of luck and serendipity which needs to miraculously appear for all of that ‘success’ to come to fruition, much as no one likes to admit it. Yet, we are conditioned from birth to base our judgment of success and our self-worth on an outcome which is largely not in our hands. This disconnect creates much unnecessary and ongoing anxiety for almost everyone.

eaving NLCS after seven transformative years, heading to LSE for a degree in Industrial and Business Economics, I never imagined I would end up teaching Hindu philosophy, meditation, and stressmanagement skills to children, teenagers, and adults of all faiths.

Studying and teaching spirituality and philosophical concepts from various religions and cultures has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. The past 25 years in my career have brought me to the unexpected realization that R&B icon Lauryn Hill is spot-on when she asks, “How you gonna win when you ain’t right within?” Is it possible to achieve success if you don’t have the optimal mindset?

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However, what is fully in our control is our best effort. If we have the ability to put aside the distracting thoughts and endless yearnings for diverse desired outcomes, only then can we truly focus fully on the task at hand. This full focus allows us to give the task at hand our best effort, which ironically increases the chances of attaining a desired outcome (the thing which we aren’t thinking about anymore!). Anxiety is a huge saboteur of performance and is largely caused by trying to control the uncontrollable - the results of our efforts. Shifting one’s definition of success from being result-oriented to being effort-oriented reduces anxiety and increases concentration. It also leads to greater peace of mind, which is precious and rare nowadays. Here it is in one catchy sentence: Do your best and leave the rest. Next, comes validation. We all look for validation outside of ourselves. (Cue the desire for a prestigious preferably envy-inducing job plus associated toys.) But validation does not come just from the acquisition of such a job. Next, we need validation, approval and appreciation from one’s boss, peers, parents, partners, partner’s parents, siblings, children, friends, neighbours, etc. It’s all exhausting, and quite frankly, impossible to achieve. The result is more likely to be frustration and disappointment. We have everything, but not contentment. However, self-validation - patting ourselves on the back for a job well done, being proud of our efforts, and grateful for the miracle of the ability to perform those efforts, regardless of the outcome: that is very possible. This is true personal freedom. Self-validation leads to confidence, contentment, and resilience. But it requires a re-wiring of everything we’ve likely been trained to think and trained to strive for.

Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Amplify… Yourself!

At the Hindu Youth Summer Camp, New York with my Students What is one’s best effort? How do I know when I’ve given my best effort? I would argue that one’s best effort starts with self-care. I like to use the universal airplane emergency drill: always put the oxygen mask on yourself before helping others. We are often taught from an early age that we don’t matter. Only our success matters, and so we define ourselves by our success (hand me that prestigious job!). And, in the pursuit of that success, we neglect ourselves and our self-care, for the hope of an imaginary future successful version of ourselves who finally deserves self-care and happiness. That’s not a sustainable path to success. I have found that it is, however, a pretty reliable path to burnout and depression. I believe that self-care is essential to being the best version of yourself and contributing to the world your best most empowered self, and your best most empowered efforts. I’m not talking about selfishly looking out for number one to the detriment of others. No, not that. I’m talking about making sure your body gets enough rest, eating nutrients which nourish your body, exercising and keeping your body as strong as you can, and taking the time to schedule pleasurable activities into your day to keep yourself joyful. All this is to make sure we can be the best version of ourselves - the calmest, kindest, most compassionate, focused, most empowered and positive version of ourselves so we can present that version of ourselves to the world and truly give our best effort to whatever we put our mind to. Of course, there are times in our lives when this is simply not possible. Whether at work or at home, sometimes you have to just

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suck it up, do what you need to do, and put self-care aside. But recognising that this is not sustainable, and giving yourself a break or asking for help, is essential to resilience. Serving the self is very different from being self-serving. I believe we all have a duty to contribute our best selves and our best effort to this world we are blessed to be a part of. But first, our best self and an optimal mindset needs to be nurtured and amplified. So if Ms Hill were to one day ask me her question directly, my answer is that I think success begins and is achieved within you. Sharmila Sani, née Nandwani moved to New York when she was 20, where she has lived for the last 34 years with her husband, Sunil. They have two adult sons who have both graduated from college. Over the last 25 years, Sharmila has taught Hindu philosophy and is currently teaching teenagers and adults. Her focus is simplifying the lessons from the Bhagavad Geeta, an ancient text, and exploring how to apply these lessons in modern life to live skilfully. More recently, Sharmila has launched a podcast, Geeta Girl, which she also co-hosts. Geeta Girl Podcast is in its seventh season, has over 30,000 listeners, and can be found on Apple Music, Spotify and all other podcast platforms, as well as on the website Geeta Girl. Sharmila is also a member of 100 Strong, a philanthropic group within Save the Children which works closely with Save leadership to support the organization’s mission of protecting children’s rights.

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Alumnae Voices

Sofia Johanson (ONL 2019)

Much is Expected of Those, To Whom Much is Given

Graveyard in Lviv Where we Paid our Respects long with ‘floors not ceilings’, the mantra ‘much is expected of those, to whom much is given’ is the lesson NLCS instilled in me more than any other.

Most recent ONLs will have memories of bringing in a pound coin for mufti days, fundraising to build classrooms in Zambia and Madagascar or the annual assembly by ONL Stephanie Lee’s mother about her work for the Karenni people. But I’m prepared to admit that the omnipresent sense of duty instilled whilst at school faded away somewhat for a period, too preoccupied as I was with passing university exams, navigating new relationships and then finding a job and working out how to read a water meter. Arguably, deciding to raise £3,500 in about two months and then driving 1,300 kilometres to deliver a 4x4 truck for medical evacuations from the Ukrainian battlefield was a slightly dramatic course-correction, but NLCS girls don’t do things by halves. I was oddly comforted by the fact that most of my fellow fundraisers didn’t have a personal connection or particularly sophisticated reason for participating - no one wants a profound mission statement, just your help. I think I went to Ukraine because I was studying in St Petersburg when the full-scale invasion began in 2022 and so have been following the war closer than most, but really it was mainly an indefinable desire to be of use. Anyone who has tried to raise several thousand pounds will know the alternating senses of awkwardness, panic, and relief as you are forced to enlist the support - financial or otherwise - of anyone you think might help. I tried everything from a social media campaign to hosting dinner parties where guests donated whatever they liked after the event - one attended by ONLs that left in 1988. The facade of steady progress indicated by online fundraising pages belie the toil

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that goes into it, and I have huge respect for those who do this frequently, or as a job. A few hundred pounds off my target, I travelled up to Oxfordshire after work one evening in March trying to convince myself I could drum up further funds once I had evidence of what the money was going towards. I joined twelve women I’d never met, made brief introductions, and the next morning we set off in a convoy of six vehicles to Dover. They ranged from a pair of thirty-something motorcycle enthusiasts from London and a Scottish physiotherapist who had retired in Yorkshire, to a nurse in the NHS

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Much is Expected of Those, To Whom Much is Given

Olena Leaving Lviv in her Vehicle and a woman who had just welcomed her dog’s litter of six puppies. Equipped with walkie-talkies and a virtually non-existent knowledge base of mechanics, we drove to Lviv, in western Ukraine over three days, stopping overnight in Germany and Poland. The sight of six enormous trucks, painted in garish colours and covered in Ukrainian and British flags prompted encouraging toots from fellow motorway users, and episodes including the navigation of Antwerp’s ring roads, Katowice’s lack of parking and the hours-long queue at the Polish-Ukrainian were in equal measure maddening and comical. There was the obligatory mechanical malfunction that came as early as Dortmund, where the engine of one of the vehicles was practically dragging along the road, but it was nothing that a few well-applied ratchet straps couldn’t fix. At a Polish petrol station we met some Ukrainians who had driven all the way from Denmark, who had to watch on bemused as we - slightly mad from so many hours of sitting - spontaneously broke into dance to the tune of Verka Serduchka’s Dancing Lasha Tumbai, that bonkers Eurovision entry from years ago with the singer dressed in all silver. The most sombre period of the journey was the night I spent in Katowice, because I’d enabled my air raid alert app too early, so I was awoken four times in the night to my phone screaming at me to get to a shelter. Despite the experience of that night, the weeks of fundraising and hours of driving, what I was doing only felt remotely ‘real’ when I met the diminutive woman who would be taking one of the vehicles the next 1000 miles across Ukraine. Olena was nineteen and studying economics abroad when the full-scale invasion began in 2022. She is twenty-three now, and has been serving as a combat medic ever since hostilities began. She was one year older than the current Year 13s when she enlisted in the Ukrainian army and learned how to evacuate the wounded from no man’s land. In the time that I’ve been able to finish two degrees, get a job, and start renting a flat in London, she’s been stationed in freezing temperatures and impassable mud in north eastern Ukraine, dragging wounded soldiers from the front-line so she can treat them. In the last few months, Olena has sent us videos of her cleaning a layer of mud inches-thick off the vehicle, and photos of her standing proudly in front of the bonnet, armed with her first-aid kit. But since her last communication, it’s entirely conceivable that the vehicle could have been destroyed by a drone attack, and if not, it may not have been fast or agile enough to bring back some of her comrades alive. The charity I went with is now working on sending unmanned ground vehicles to the front lines, because they

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can be remote-controlled by a soldier kilometres away and so the evacuation missions endanger one less life. Whilst these mini open-top tanks provide a reason for hope, we’ve also been told about the number of vehicles obliterated by drones in the past weeks, taking their crews with them. Last month, one message was shared asking us to raise a glass to Taras, a soldier whose unit received a vehicle from the charity, and who would have been celebrating his thirty-eighth birthday, had he not been killed in mid-December. There’s always something else we need to spend our time or money on, and striving for success and blazing a trail for younger women is a mission that all ONLs should be proud of engaging in. But we need to remember that other lesson too, that much is expected of those, to whom much is given. Sofia Johanson (ONL 2019) went on to read Russian and Spanish at Cambridge. She spent time in St Petersburg for her year abroad but had to leave as a result of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, completing her studies in Spain. Sofia went on to obtain an MSc in Russian and European Studies at the University of Oxford, before beginning work as an Assistant Producer at Times Radio. She now produces Drive with John Pienaar and Cathy Newman, as well as helping to coordinate coverage of the war in Ukraine across the station. She has also written for the Times, the Moscow Times and Meduza, and is travelling to Ukraine this summer to report on civilian life. She remains close with friends she met at North London, especially via playing Lacrosse.

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Alumnae Voices

Tiana Lakhani (ONL 2021)

Trust the Curiosity

here is a memory I return to more often than I would expect. In my first few weeks at NLCS, in Year 7, I found myself sitting in Mrs McCabe’s office in the Old House, one of a small group of girls invited to lunch with her. I cannot remember what I had done that week to earn the invitation, but I remember everything else: the charming Old House windows pooling in with honeyed light, her graceful, inviting energy, and the feeling of sitting in a room full of ambitious, like-minded young women, sharing our thoughts in a way that felt both exciting and quietly formative. I always thought Mrs McCabe was impossibly glamorous: fashionable, sharp, and strong. What stayed with me was not simply how she carried herself, but what that made possible to imagine. She showed me, simply by being herself, that you did not have to contort yourself to fit other people’s expectations, or diminish one part of who you are in order to make another seem more credible. One of my most cherished school traditions was her teaching public speaking to all of us in Year 7, and I carried many lessons from it long after I left. If you remember me, you will know I was never short of an opinion, and I loved the chance to debate it. But she taught me that winning a debate is not just about having the strongest argument; it is about how you bring people with you. That is a political skill as much as

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Venue for GLITCH - Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco an intellectual one, and it is a distinction I have carried into every room I have walked into since. I did not know it then, but she was teaching something much larger than public speaking: that conviction matters, but so does judgment; that a point of view only becomes powerful when you can make other people see it too. Through my years at NLCS, I came to understand that making people see your point of view requires more than simply having one. It takes clarity, conviction, and the willingness to believe in an idea enough to pursue it seriously. That is

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Trust the Curiosity

cybersecurity research focused on North Korea. I was fascinated by politics, economics, and social impact, but I kept finding myself in rooms where people spoke confidently about how AI would change the world without really understanding how it worked. So I followed that question properly. I took computer science classes, learned the technical foundations for myself, and ended up specializing in something I had never anticipated: bringing technical knowledge into the social sciences through my research. By the time I graduated, that curiosity had taken me into conversations with the UN, onto panels with FBI agents, and toward award-winning work in a field I had never planned to enter. What surprised me most was where those same instincts took me next. I had gone from cybersecurity research on North Korea to McKinsey, suddenly sitting across from Fortune 500 consumer companies - the kinds of brands I had grown up recognizing on shelves and buying from myself. On the surface, it felt like a world away. In reality, the work drew on the same core skills: making sense of complex technologies, asking sharper questions about what they meant, and helping leaders turn them into something practical, strategic, and human.

Graduation at Stanford University (2025)

also how I moved through school. I followed what genuinely interested me - not what looked best on paper, and not what fit into some neatly prewritten narrative, but what made me curious. That led me in all sorts of directions: building fluency in Mandarin, travelling to Berlin, reading texts in Ancient Greek, performing in three plays at the Performing Arts Centre, and heading into central London for debating competitions. Just as importantly, it led me to questions closer to home - interviewing my grandmother and her friends about their lives for articles in the school magazine, founding Culture Society after recognizing there was space for more intentional conversations on identity, and building friendships that have remained some of the most enduring in my life. But beyond any individual activity, NLCS taught me something more lasting: to trust my own curiosity, even when I could not yet see where it was leading. That instinct shaped almost everything that came after. I arrived at Stanford certain I was going to become a human rights lawyer, only to find myself, within a year, deep in

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And then, in another turn that might have looked unexpected from the outside, those same instincts led me to GLITCH, San Francisco’s first tech-inspired fashion show, where I was brought onto the leadership team this year to help orchestrate the experience. Staged across the city in three acts, GLITCH uses fashion to explore a question that has become central to so much of my work: whether we will simply be shaped by technology, or whether we can act on it, challenge it, and help shape it ourselves. It is a project about agency, creativity, and human expression. To me, it also feels like a continuation of something NLCS taught me early: that voice is not static. It expands as your world expands. It deepens when you trust your curiosity. And it matters most when you use it to connect ideas, people, and possibilities that might otherwise remain separate. I still think about Mrs McCabe’s office. The warmth of it. The sense of possibility it held. The example she set, simply by being fully herself. I did not know it then, but she was teaching me how to amplify a voice by building a life expansive enough, curious enough, and courageous enough to carry it. Tiana Lakhani (ONL 2021) is a Stanford graduate and award-winning AI researcher based in San Francisco, now at McKinsey advising consumer companies on AI strategy and technology builds. Outside of work, she’s happiest near the water, loves bringing friends together, and is passionate about building community for women navigating entrepreneurship, careers, and new chapters in the Bay!

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Alumnae Voices

Valerie Mendes, née Barnett (ONL 1958)

I Spy with My Little Eye was six years old when my form teacher at North London Collegiate asked us to write an essay on The Things I Love Most. I was sitting in our ugly kitchen in Edgware, chewing the ends of my long brown plaits and filling my fountain pen with navy blue ink. Autum leaves, I wrote, and the way they crunch beneath my feet. The early-morning scent of newly baked bread from the baker’s shop on the corner. My kitten when he looks into my eyes and washes his face with his paw.

I decided there and then: I was going to be a writer. The search for the right word, exactly and only the right word, would rule my life in whatever shape and form that life took. I taught myself to read at the age of three. By the time I started school I was already writing poems to my Daddy. Every evening in my tiny bedroom overlooking Hale Lane I’d blob inky bits of paper with a song of praise to the sound of the milkman’s horse at dawn or the brightness of the garden robin. Every morning while Daddy was shaving with Imperial Leather I’d read out my offering. ‘Excellent, Valerie,’ he’d tell me, approving his handsome profile, sparkling blue eyes and waves of rich black hair. A hot flannel removed the foam to reveal silky smooth skin. ‘Your best yet. More tomorrow, please. You must keep it up. And I must dash.’ I’d skip back to my desk, pull on my brown tunic and rush downstairs to feed the kitten and swallow toast and marmalade. Then I’d trot off to School. I’d become an observer, a watcher of the skies and rain-washed pavements, a recorder of people’s voices, angry or sweet, a memory bank of the outfits they wore, the noise they made when they sneezed, how they slurped their lunchtime lemonade and chewed with yellowing teeth on a lump of bread. In Blenheim’s Gardens

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Issue 29 / Summer 2026

I Spy with My Little Eye

At The Trout Inn, Oxford The Second World War had just ended when I arrived at NLCS. There were echoes of it everywhere: the downstairs cloakrooms seemed full of its haunting shadows. We drank from tin mugs at lunchtime. The Staff were all unmarried women. Some had lost their own true love in the war. Others loathed their profession but it allowed them the only independence they needed to survive. I watched them all, remembering every detail. Miss Hall’s Goodbye Girls handshake was firm but fair. Miss Lewis taught netball and anything else that moved across a court, bouncing around in navy shorts that never looked creased or sweaty. I crashed tennis balls against the gym walls after everyone else had long gone home, wanting to stay while the summer light gradually dimmed around me.

Olena leaving Lviv in her vehicle

Once out of School, there were men in the streets filling smelly potholes and repairing curbs. ‘They’re all German spies,’ my mother told me. ‘You must watch them like a hawk. Eyes in the back of your head as well as the front. We’re not out of the woods, you know, not by a long chalk. Wars don’t end because one particular nation thinks it’s won the day. Oh dear me, no. They’ll be back. The Russians, the Germans, the Chinese. You name them, they’re going to get us somehow or other. Bacteriological warfare, just you wait and see. They’re hard at it as we speak. You mark my words. If they offer you a drink, turn your back and spit it out. Say Yes when you mean No. Look them in the eye, that’s the only way. You get at the truth, my girl. Our country will always need bloody good spies. But don’t tell your dad. He thinks you’re going to marry a rich Jewish boy from Golders Green.’ I promised my mother I never would. And of course, I never did. Nobody ever actually asked me what I believed. By the time I was seven I was scouring every library book for the name of Jesus, fascinated and gripped by the simplicity of the life he led, and his grim determination never to give in, in spite of the odds brutally stacked against him. Although I was branded a Jewish girl at School, I sang with joy and gusto all the wonderful Church of England hymns and wanted to be baptized a Christian. I invented my own God who always listened to my detailed account of my day and my determination to discover the truth at all costs, however hard. He listened and understood. For my whole life He has been there for me, in tiny Chapel or elegant Church, listening to my perfect-pitch singing voice and supporting my never-ending quest. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. In all my novels and in all my poems, nothing less than that will ever do. Valerie Mendes, née Barnett (ONL 1958) joined NLCS when she was six. She left when she was eighteen with a State Scholarship in English and History and went to

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Reading University for a degree in English and Philosophy. She began her career as a journalist with Marshall Cavendish, and then became an Editor with Oxford University Press, first in London, then in Oxford. After eight years as a freelance Editor, she began to write her own work. Two picture books were followed by four novels for young adults with Simon & Schuster, and Larkswood, her first historical novel for adults, published by Orion. Valerie now runs her own imprint, VMBooks, where she has published two historical novels, a memoir and a collection of poems. Today she is writing Flight of the Lark, the sequel to Larkswood, a crossover novel Where Peacocks Scream, and a second collection of poems, Rejoicing. She lives and works in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

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Alumnae Voices

Cara Kliman, née Wides (ONL 1995)

Hooked From the First Page... Cara Kliman, née Wides (ONL 1995) in conversation with the psychological thriller writer Jane Corry, née Thomas (ONL 1974)

You joined NLCS when you were eight, when Dame Kitty Anderson was Headteacher, and left the school after taking your A Levels in 1974. Looking back, how did your time as a pupil at NLCS inspire you?

more novels published, nine of which have been Sunday Times top ten best-sellers.

English was my passion. It was my favourite subject, and I had some wonderful teachers such as Miss Scrimgour, Miss Shillito and Miss Diamond (who went onto to become Mrs Brogan). They boosted my confidence and made me feel I could write.

I had to learn to write novels in a completely different way from articles for magazines. However, my journalist training helped because it taught me to ask questions about people and understand their characters.

I also found inspiration in the beautiful school grounds and both libraries which were my favourite haunts. In the Sixth Form, I was a school librarian prefect which was right up my street!

How much of a connection is there between journalism and writing novels?

Cara Kliman

After university you went on to become a journalist. How did you make the transition into writing books? I always wanted to be a novelist so I thought: ‘What can I do that might be a stepping stone?’ I knew I wanted to read English at university and afterwards (to my amazement) I got a job on the prestigious Thomson Graduate Career Scheme, partly because I’d written for the university magazine. I went on to work on a fashion trade magazine, where I had a wonderful time interviewing famous people like Zandra Rhodes. Then I worked on Woman’s Own, where I interviewed stars like ABBA and Julie Walters. Journalism gave me a lot of pleasure but always at the back of my mind was the wish that one day I’d write a novel. I began writing a few drafts but wasn’t able to get down to it seriously until my youngest went to nursery. By that time, it was the mid ‘90s and I was taken on by an agent almost immediately. However, it took twelve novels before I got published! Luckily, NLCS gave me a ‘can do and will do’ attitude. So I never gave up. Since then, I’ve had 22

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Do you use real experiences for the plots/ characters in your novels?

When my first marriage ended, I took a job as a writer in residence at a high security prison. For the novel, My Husband’s Wife, my first international best-seller, I drew on that background experience without using real people. It’s impossible to write about prison unless you’ve been in it; you have to smell the danger of being alone with a criminal in a room; smell the fear; smell the cabbage. Prison backgrounds have become my USP factor in my psychological thrillers. What advice would you have for student at NLCS reading this who wants to be a writer? First of all, WRITE! Jot down whatever comes into your head and don’t be embarrassed about the fact you want to be a writer. It can be a hard thing to admit to (like saying you want to be a famous actress) but never let people put you off. Don’t be scared of just writing for yourself. Pitch ideas to magazines. Submit to letter pages. Enter as many competitions as you can. I came second in a writing competition for ‘The Lady’ before I got published as a novelist. My prize was meeting the judges, writers Arthur Hailey and Rosamunde Pilcher. This was an amazing experience and a great confidence boost.

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Hooked From the First Page...

How did you know what genre of novel you wanted to write?

When it comes to your own writing life, do you follow a very rigid routine?

I thought I wanted to write romance at first – which I did. Then, because I’ve always loved history (thank you, Miss Weaver!) I wrote three historicals which were best-sellers in Germany and Italy. My prison experience led to my passion for psychological thrillers. I also write short stories. Be open to different genres. You might surprise yourself!

As a mother of three, I found myself writing late at night. When my children were older, I wrote for magazines and The Daily Telegraph (to which I still contribute) in the mornings and my novels in the afternoon. Then, when I worked at the prison while also teaching at Oxford University, I went back to tapping out my novels at night! Now I write full-time, I like to get up early. I swim in the sea at around 7am and am usually at my desk by about 9:30am. Then I work through to about one o’clock before having lunch with my husband. I also help out with school runs for my grandchildren who live near me. (My 10-year-old granddaughter is a born writer and my eldest son is a novelist too. My youngest son is an award-winning podcaster and my daughter is very creative.) I’ll then go back to my desk in the early evening for an hour or so and read through what I’ve written. I also have to find the time to do social media which I rather enjoy. My husband is very understanding, for which I’m extremely grateful. If you’re going to be a writer, I recommend having a partner who is happy for you to disappear for hours on end! If you could have a conversation with ‘Jane the school girl’ now, what do you think you would say? ‘Keep going because you will do it.’ All I ever wanted to do was write stories. I remember my mother telling me that I wrote little bits and pieces from the minute I could actually hold a pencil. I think people are born writers. They might not know it or they might be deterred by people advising a ‘securer’ career. However, I would tell the shy and often overawed Jane Thomas, to ‘hang onto your dreams’. Jane Corry, née Thomas (ONL 1974) is a Sunday Times best-selling author, her novels have sold over 2 million copies world-wide in over 20 countries. She also written for numerous publications including Woman, Woman’s Own, The Times and The Daily Telegraph. She is a former creative writing tutor at Oxford University; a former Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Exeter University; and a winner of the Elizabeth Goudge Award and the Vera Brittain Cup. Her first psychological thriller, ‘My Husband’s Wife’ was published by Penguin in 2016 and became a Sunday Times bestseller. Her latest novel My Sister’s Secret was published in June 2026. (Penguin Viking).

Jane Corry at The Toronto Book Festival with the Canadian issue of ‘I Died On A Tuesday’ which reached number two in the Canadian book charts

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Cara Kliman, née Wides (ONL 1995) was at North London Collegiate from 1988 to 1996, and then went on to read English Literature at university. She is an English Language teacher, a journalist and a writer. She lives in Stockport with her husband and two daughters, where she spends her free time going for long walks in Highfield Country Park, and lying on the sofa with the cat, reading novels (Cara, not the cat).

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Event Highlights Alison Eadie Journalism Prize Winners Afternoon Tea, 15 September 2025

Honorary ONLs Drinks, 11 March 2026

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Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Event Highlights Class of 2020 – 5 Year Reunion, 1 December 2025

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Event Highlights New ONL Winter Drinks, 15 December 2025

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Event Highlights Big Six Dinner, 8 January 2026

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Event Highlights Decades Reunion, 17 May 2026

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Event Highlights

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Event Highlights Half Decades Reunion, 14 June 2026

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Event Highlights

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Event Highlights Honorary ONLs Discovering the City of London, 30 June 2026

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Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Event Highlights

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ONL Community Chapters

ONL Community Chapters Stay Connected, Wherever You Are

Whether you have moved cities, are planning a trip, or simply want to connect with friendly faces nearby, our UK and International Chapters are a wonderful way to stay part of the ONL Community. Get in touch with your local Chapter Leads and if there isn’t one close by, maybe you would like to start one? We would be delighted to support you in setting it up, email us at onla@nlcs.org.uk.

UK Channel Islands Julie Alberg, née Mills (ONL 1985) onla@nlcs.org.uk

International Australia Elizabeth Oswald, née Hammond (ONL 1962) onla@nlcs.org.uk

Gloucestershire Dorothy Farley, née Coode (ONL 1955) onla@nlcs.org.uk

Israel Debbie Benstein, née Kestel (ONL 1980) dbenstein@gmail.com

Hampshire Sally Fryer, née Turner (ONL 1974) onla@nlcs.org.uk

United Arab Emirates Laura Pyke-Jean (ONL 1987) laurapyke@yahoo.com

Scotland Ali Harris, née Bell (ONL 1982) onla@nlcs.org.uk

United States New York: Andrea Akwiwu (ONL 2020), Sophia Breslauer (ONL 2016), Kezia Levy (ONL 2019) and Anna Moulds (ONL 2021) Northern California: Tiana Lakhani (ONL 2021) Southern California: Rebecca Kearey (ONL 1988) Washington DC: Alpa Shah (ONL 2004) For all US chapter queries, email onla@nlcs.org.uk

South West Pam Lea, née Toyne (ONL 1972) and Linda Parr (ONL 1970) lindasusanparr@gmail.com

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ONL Community Chapters

Channel Islands Helen Stone, née Golding (ONL 1965) enjoying lunch at the Royal Golf Club with Pat Panter, née Higson (ONL 1957) who has lived in Jersey for the past 40 years. Helen was the keynote speaker at the Holocaust Memorial Day event in St Helier, Jersey in January this year. She is a founder of Generation 2 Generation, a Holocaust education charity and spoke about this year’s theme of “Bridging Generations.”

Hampshire A ‘not-so-unlucky’ 13 girls met for the Hampshire Branch lunch on Saturday 18 April at the home of Lorna FitzPatrick, née Hamlin (ONL 1986), just outside of Andover. It was definitely too late for daffodils, but the sun shone as we sat in the garden and tucked into a delicious spread of food under the ever-hopeful eye of Hetty, the fox red labrador. Four of the girls were from ‘out of county’ but were of course made to feel hugely welcomed and all are hopeful they will come to the next gathering. A huge Thank You to our outgoing secretary, Mandy Collins (ONL 1973) for organising us all over the past few years and welcome to the new, Sally Fryer, née Turner (ONL 1974).

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ONL Community Chapters

South West Those attending were:

Autumn Meeting We met at Philippa Collings, née Threlfall (Teacher of Art 1962 – 1967) home in Wells in October. Conversation flowed as old friends reunited and new friendships were made. It was a wonderful opportunity to catch up, reminisce and admire Philippa’s beautiful garden and artwork, while enjoying a delicious lunch and her warm hospitality.

Philippa’s Mural from 1972

Left to right: Jill Hall née Hankins (ONL 1975), Linda Parr (ONL 1970), Sue Minter (ONL 1967), Philippa Collings née Threlfall (Honorary ONL), Stephanie Crockett (ONL 1970), Hilary Morgan, née Brazier (ONL 1970)

Spring Meeting In May, we met at Stephanie Crockett’s home near Taunton, where we were warmly welcomed with lunch and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon together.

and interesting career, including her time as Miss McLaughlin’s secretary, which gave us a unique insight into school life from a different perspective.

Stephanie gave us a fascinating tour of her home, filled with treasures from her travels, along with her beautiful garden and studio. We also heard about her varied

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day, and we look forward to meeting again in the Taunton area in October.

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ONL Regional Chapters

Scotland “Doon the Watter” Trip On Sunday 6th July, six of the Scotland ONL group met in Glasgow for a ‘Doon the Watter’ trip on the Waverley, the last sea-faring paddle steamer in the World. The journey, following the route often made in Victorian times, when Glaswegians escaped the city for fresh air and seaside holidays, took us down the Clyde via Greenock and Dunoon, over to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, before we disembarked in Largs, North Ayrshire. Largs is famous for a wonderful Art Deco ice cream parlour, Nardini’s, so this was a must to finish off our day. All in all it was a grand day out! Largs is renowned for its Victorian architecture and the famous Art Deco ice cream parlour, Nardini’s, making it the perfect place to enjoy lunch and, of course, a delicious ice cream. Those attending were (front to back): Nora Mogey (ONL 1979), Mary Cranston, née Nickless (ONL 1974), Alison Sheridan (ONL 1975), Clare Winsch (ONL 1972), Mary Winsch (ONL 1968) and Ali Harris, née Bell (ONL 1982).

Dalmeny Estate Walk and Pottery Session On Saturday 6 September, nine Scotland ONLs came together for a full day of activities, beginning with coffee near Cramond before setting off on a six-mile walk through the Dalmeny Estate to South Queensferry. Fine weather made for a beautiful coastal walk, with plenty of time to admire the scenery, wildlife and Eagle Rock, an ancient carving believed to have been created by Roman soldiers around 1,800 years ago. After a well-earned ice cream beneath the iconic Forth bridges, the group enjoyed a two-hour pottery-painting session, prompting many happy memories of NLCS pottery lessons with Mr Henderson.

Founder’s Day Celebrations On Friday 27 March a group of Edinburgh-based Scotland ONLs gathered to watch the Founder’s Day Service together, followed by brunch. It was a lovely opportunity to share the occasion and reminisce about school days. With several excellent singers among the group, everyone joined in the psalms and hymns with great enthusiasm. Those attending were: Woody Taylor, née Sale (ONL 1976), Shereen Benjamin (ONL 1983), Gillian Sweetman (ONL 1970), Nora Mogey (ONL 1979) and Ali Harris, née Bell (ONL 1982). On Saturday 28 March Scotland ONLs gathered for their now-traditional Founder’s Day lunch at Howies Restaurant in Edinburgh. It was the group’s largest gathering of the year, with ONLs travelling from across Scotland, including Grantown-on-Spey, Perth, Dundee and Biggar. Delicious food and excellent company made for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, with new school connections formed and daffodils proudly displayed. Daffodils from left to right: Janet Mundy (ONL 1973), Nora Mogey (ONL 1979), Jackie Tunstall-Pedoe (ONL 1960), Linda Majcher, née Clare (ONL 1973), Mary Winsch (ONL 1968), Clare Winsch (ONL 1972), Gillian Sweetman (ONL 1970), Shereen Benjamin (ONL 1983), Vanessa Glynn (ONL 1978), Ruth Law (ONL 1974), Hilary Caldicott (ONL 1972), Woody Taylor, née Sale (ONL 1976) and Serena Dodhia (ONL 2015).

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ONL Community Chapters

International

Drinks in New York hosted by Michelle Clayman (ONL 1971), October 2025

Breakfast in Dubai, December 2025

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Issue 29 / Summer 2026

ONL Community Chapters

Dinner in San Francisco, June 2026

Reunion in Israel hosted by Michal Goldschmidt (ONL 2009) at Bookhaus, the English-language bookshop she founded in Tel Aviv, February 2026

Lunch in New York, June 2026

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ONLs in Colour

ONLs in Colour Creativity has always been part of the fabric of the ONL community. Whether through paint, textiles, photography, printmaking, gardens or countless other forms of expression, the ONL Community continue to create work that inspires, challenges and delights. These pages celebrate a small selection of that remarkable talent.

Jacob’s’ Rose This is probably my favourite of the numerous quilts I have made over the years. It won Visitors’ Choice at the local show some years ago. It is known as a dahlia quilt and is made from fabrics designed by Philip Jacobs.

Reflections During the pandemic, I learnt the art of lino cutting and intaglio and love the fact that no one print turns out the same.

Joanne Day (Honorary ONL)

An intaglio print. Puja Dodhia (ONL 2014)

and garden designers of the era, I created an artist’s garden for wildlife using water and plants of that era. This garden has been featured on TV for its multitude of climbers and in Japan as an example of an English garden.

Honouring Gertrude Jekyll’s Art 20 years ago, we bought a flat in an Arts and Crafts style with a derelict garden. Inspired by the artists

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The garden is designed to be wildlife friendly and we don’t spray or use any chemicals and our front garden - the photos are of the back - has won a silver medal from the RHS as an example wildlife friendly front garden. Elayne Coakes, née Bennett (ONL 1968)

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ONLs in Colour

My drawings are a visual archive and a personal story: stations as cathedrals of memory, places of departure and reunion and symbols of belonging. My approach is rooted in my own migration story. As a child in Iran, before leaving for the UK, I was taken to the roof of our apartment to draw the sunset one last time. It taught me drawings could preserve memory and place and carry it forward. Ever since, I treat my drawings as journeys. I wanted to capture the spirit of the railways for a wide audience - heritage enthusiasts, travellers and those who see stations as more than transit points. It embraces wider railway infrastructure - cafés, signal boxes, bridges and viaducts - without which these journeys would not be possible. I want to encourage people to look beyond departure boards, to notice

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inscriptions and architectural details that hold untold stories. The artwork is created with fine liner pens (0.05 and 0.03) for precision, layered with gouache, watercolour, Indian ink, pastel, brush pens, acrylic markers, even Tippex for highlights. Across 166 mixed media drawings, the approach captures detail and emotional, freezing moments, so journeys past and present continue to speak to us. The drawing is from my recent book 200 years of Britain's. Railways in 14 Journeys, published by Frances Lincoln. St Pancras Station, Mixed media Sherin Aminossehe (ONL 1995)

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This artwork is a double page from "Pushpa Mala: Bangalore house", a screen-printed book created by Marina in 2025. Handprinted with two colours, the picture book is inspired by Marina's childhood moments spent with her grandparents in their home in Bangalore, India. Pink and green are one of her favourite colour pairings and they also symbolise love. "Dahlia/Rose" - extract from "Pushpa Mala", 2025 | Double page: 23 x 30cm Screen printed book, limited edition of 8. Discover more: https://marinabradbury. com/ https://marinabradbury.com/ pushpa-mala Marina Bradbury (ONL 2002)

Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana Depicting the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana, which run the length of New Zealand's South Island. Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana translates from Maori to English as: "the shining of the sea". Elspeth attended NLCS at the end of WWII, emigrated to New Zealand in 1956 where she had a long and happy career as a primary school teacher. Late Elspeth Kerrison, née Gibson (ONL 1947)

Painting: Oil study of Michelangelo's the creation of Adam. Sketch: 2 min charcoal study from a life drawing session, capturing movement, exploring immediate observation, with a focus on light and shadow. Anna Bateson (ONL 2012)

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ONLs in Colour

quintessential, picture perfect view of North London Collegiate School, capturing the heritage, character and sense of continuity that sit at the heart of the NLCS story.

The Old House This painting of the Old House was created as a retirement gift for Ian Callender, in recognition of his leadership and lasting contribution to NLCS International. The Old House represents a

In creating this piece, I wanted to give Ian something that reflects not only the beauty of the school, but also the history and values he helped carry forward during his time as CEO. As he begins his retirement, my hope is that this painting serves as a lasting reminder of the community he helped shape and the legacy he leaves behind, as well as a cherished connection to a place that means so much to the NLCS family. Jade Howard, NLCS International

Monet’s House at Giverny This painting is loosely based on a photograph taken back in 1995 on a short trip to France, actually after I had just finished at NLCS. It was a memorable day visiting Giverney with my mother and Grandparents. Acrylic on Paper Sophie Newman (ONL 1995)

Prints for Fantasy Fashion These are abstract images but with possible figurative associations. Found objects are usually the starting point for my work and shapes are all important. These prints were donated to NLCS for Fantasy Fashion Show (2026). www.eleanorengle.com Eleanor Engle (ONL 1977)

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ONLs in Colour

NLCS to Yorkshire: A Journey in Textiles I make hooked rugs and this is one of my favourite commissions, basing the design on the client’s quilt. Thank you to the fantastic art department at NLCS for laying the foundations.

A Soft Surrender (Marble)

Her Silence is a Crown

(Alabaster)

Serenity (Marble)

Mary Lane, née Hollingbery (ONL 1975)

Jali

Dissent and Displacement 1B from a series of 36 prints, an exhibition at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery 2020 Monica Petzal (ONL 1971)

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Canopy

Behind the Curtain

Brush

Lith printing is an alternative darkroom technique using volatile, reactive chemistry, that produces rich tones and distinctive textures. Each print is shaped by factors like temperature, dilution and even the darkroom atmosphere, making every image one of a kind and unreproducible. These photographs were created through a unique contact printing process, refined over years of experimenting. Prints are available on Liselle’s website. www.lumeiprints.com. Liselle Mei (ONL 1991)

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ONLs in Colour

Threshold II One of a series of my mixed media artworks - memories of journeys and imagined worlds. Lino print, collagraph, monotype, inks, fabric, stitch, gold powder sumptuous! Linda Jenkins, née Brewster (ONL 1971, Visiting Art Teacher 2016-2023)

More than 55 years after doing a little pottery at school I started pottery lessons here in Türkiye where I live. I'm totally addicted! Here are a few of the pieces I've made. Jenni Gallagher, nee Holmquist (ONL 1973)

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ONLs in Colour

Preparing for the Show This painting was completed using reference from sketches and photographs taken at the Devon County Show. I love to observe the interactions between farmers and their animals. Here, four sheep are being carefully prepared for the show ground. Katherine Woolnough (ONL 1976)

At Rest Portrait of Laura Oil on canvas Penny Killingbeck née Hammond (ONL 1968)

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Oil on wood, steel An undisturbed forest scene, its form guided by the wood’s natural grain and texture. Within the work surface and depth interact in quiet tension. Coral Harding (ONL 2019)

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ONLs in Colour

Norwegian Coastline Painted this from a holiday photograph taken by Shirley’s daughter. Shirley Gill, née Newman (ONL 1954)

Now happily retired, Clare has taken to making ceramic mosaics. Clare Crowther née Singer (ONL 1974)

Canoes tied to a pier

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Swans

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ONL News 1950s

1960s

Shirley Gill, née Newman (ONL 1954)

Susan Bennett, née Rose (ONL 1961 and Honorary ONL)

Earl raised almost £10,000 by sharing their “Cornucopia of Sensual Delights” with hundreds of visitors - many of whom also came for Earl’s delicious cakes, sensual delights in themselves! In 2027, the centenary of the National Garden Scheme will be celebrated. Rumour has it that beneficiaries and volunteers MAY be invited to a very special garden party. No one needs to live in a palace to share a garden with friends and family in support of a good cause; further information can be found on the NGS website.

Photo credit: Raw Photography of FTSQ Consultancy

Shirley started North London in 1946 following the end of the war. On leaving school she wanted to study librarianship. In those days there were no suitable degree courses, so Shirley trained at Hampstead Public Libraries. She enjoyed meeting people, including survivors of the Holocaust. After a few years Shirley moved to The Auctioneers and Estate Agents Institute followed by The British Film Institute Archive in Berkhamsted. She later moved with her family to the village of Wrington, near Bristol. Some years after her husband died, she moved to an Independent Retirement Village near Bath. The village is in a beautiful countryside setting. Here she started an art group which is well attended. She mainly uses water-based oils. She has fond memories of Peggy Angus and other art teachers at school! She enjoyed her time and would not have gone anywhere else.

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Who would have thought that 30 years after Susan and Earl first opened their garden to raise funds for National Garden Scheme (NGS) charities, the very catalyst would roll up to introduce her daughterin-law-to-be last summer? Maureen Lipman, now Dame Maureen Diane Turner, chose to depict their garden as “HER FAVOURITE” for a celebrity auction in aid of the Museum of Garden History in 1995. The rest IS history.

A warm welcome awaits, whatever the weather. The plant sale is abundant, the pottery studio is open to browse and the homemade cakes are delicious. HUGE thanks go to Susan and Earl’s “Dream Team” of helpers, who make it all possible! Susan looks forward to welcoming visitors to 5 St Regis Close, Alexandra Park Road, London N10 2DE.

Helen Stone, née Golding (ONL 1965)

Since 1996, their garden in Muswell Hill has connected them with many friends and provided countless opportunities to celebrate. They welcome coach parties from many continents, forging international bonds and rejoicing in a shared love of nature, even when they do not share a common language. In a world fraught with traumas beyond anyone’s control, the health benefits of gardens are universally recognised. The NGS’s new CEO, Dr Richard Claxton, a former GP, encouraged social prescribing and campaigned for gardening as “THERAPY”. King Charles, Patron of the NGS, knew this instinctively, practising organic principles and “talking to his plants” long before it was understood that plants are sentient in their own way. In 2025, the NGS donated £3.9 million to nursing and health charities. Susan and

Helen was the keynote speaker at the Holocaust Memorial Day event in St Helier, Jersey in January this year. She is a founder of Generation 2 Generation, a Holocaust education charity and spoke about this year’s theme of “Bridging Generations.” While there she enjoyed lunch at the Royal Golf Club with ONL Pat Panter, who has lived in Jersey for the past 40 years.

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ONL News Penny Killingbeck née Hammond (ONL 1968)

and Printmaking Today, as well as broadcasting on the arts for the BBC. She taught painting, drawing and art history at a number of art schools, and later cofounded The Foundation for Women’s Art, a charity established to increase public understanding of the work of women artists through exhibitions, publications and events.

Penny studied Illustration at Harrow School of Art before training as a paintings conservator and restorer. She spent her entire career working in the field and, although now semi-retired, still remains involved in this work. She has lived in Norfolk since 1976 and completed an Open University Honours degree in the 1990s. Alongside portrait commissions and printmaking, she enjoys both urban and rural sketching and painting, and is also a keen gardener.

1970s Monica Petzal (ONL 1971)

Monica was at North London Collegiate from 1964 to 1971 and left, as she cheerfully puts it, with “only an Art A Level”. It was, however, enough to set her on course for an unusually rich and independent life in the arts. She went on to study Fine Art at Kingston, Art History at Sussex, and Painting at the Royal College of Art – a path she believes may make her the only North Londoner fine artist to have gone on to the RCA. Later, as a mature student, she added a third MA, this time in Printmaking at Camberwell. What followed university was never a single-track career, but a true portfolio life: artist, critic, lecturer, curator, interviewer, broadcaster, gallerist and advocate for women’s art. In the 1980s she wrote for Time Out, including a period as art editor, and contributed to publications ranging from Art Monthly to Artforum

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Alongside this, she sustained a serious studio practice of her own. Monica is best known as a painter and printmaker, particularly for prints and works on paper whose visual beauty is often matched by a strong sense of history and moral inquiry. Her work has been shown at venues including the Hayward, the Whitechapel Open, the Kyoto Museum, Coventry Cathedral with solo exhibitions at the Herbert Art Gallery and Leicester Museum. Her work is held in public collections including the V & A, the Royal College of Art and the Women’s Art Collection at Cambridge University. She also founded Printroom, first in Hampstead and later in Suffolk: an influential gallery devoted to contemporary printmaking and to championing the medium she loves. Born in London to German-Jewish refugee parents, Monica has increasingly turned in her later work to questions of displacement, memory, inheritance and reconciliation. In projects such as The Dresden Project, Dissent and Displacement and Here Lived, she has explored not only family history but the wider afterlives of war, exile and survival. Another important thread running through her life has been her commitment to creating opportunities for others. She recorded oral-history interviews for the British Library and Tate’s Artists’ Lives project, speaking to figures such as Annely Juda, Norbert Lynton, John Kasmin and Leslie Waddington. She has curated exhibitions, written catalogue essays, spoken to students and practitioners about printmaking, and served as trustee and vice-chair of a number of arts and heritage organisations, including the Dresden Trust, the Printmakers Council, the Curwen Print Study Centre and Jurnet’s House in Norwich. She lives with her husband, Chris Maloney, on an old farm in Suffolk. Between them they have four children

and four grandchildren. Her story is a testament to the many ways a life can unfold, and to the importance of imagination, intellectual curiosity and the determination to follow an unconventional path. https://www.monicapetzal.com

Jane Lyons MBE, née Quail (ONL 1973)

Jane received an MBE for services to people with cancer in the King’s Birthday Honours last summer. It was Jane’s work as CEO of the cancer charity Cancer52 over the course of more than a decade that generated this recognition. Jane is now Lead Governor at an NHS Foundation Trust. She is pictured collecting her MBE at Windsor Castle last autumn.

Melanie Edwards, née Jacques (ONL 1974)

Melanie has been a volunteer community organiser in her home state of Idaho since retiring as a podiatrist in UK and a physical therapist in US. The issues that she has helped put on the state election ballots are health care access for low-income people, increased funding for schools, voting reform, and allowing wider access to health care for women, which has just succeeded in gaining enough signatures to be placed on this year’s ballot. After 26 years living in the US, Melanie and her husband Andy are planning to return to the UK.

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ONL News interdisciplinary collaboration between historians, practitioners and musicologists, at early modern British clothing in music and song. The team began by examining and reconstructing period appropriate clothing, accessories and food to match those described in the Tudor ballad of Greensleeves, and worked with YouTuber Bernadette Banner to create a short film [https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=IAHnmqSQdDw] and a documentary. The completed items can be seen in an exhibition at Wollaton Hall [https://wollatonhall.org.uk/exhibitiongreensleeves/] where they are displayed alongside the Middleton Collection of 16th Century textiles. The team are currently working on items of clothing described as being given to the King of the Fairies on New Year’s Day 1627 in a 1620s song.

1980s Vanessa Hennessy, née Stanger (ONL 1984)

Last year Vanessa was awarded a Doctorate in Pre-clinical Psychopharmacology after an unconventional route into academia for a NLCS leaver. Rather than when she left in 1984, it was 30 years later, supported by her NLCS background, that Vanessa completed an Open University BSc degree and then made her academic home in the Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit at UCL. She hopes that her PhD research has played a small role in furthering knowledge and awareness of sex differences in response to treatment of PTSD symptoms and the important role neurosteroid hormones play pre- and post-trauma in both sexes”.

Prof Kathreena Kurian (ONL 1988)

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Congratulations to Professor Roz Shafran, Emeritus Professor of Translational Psychology at University College London, who has been awarded this year’s Research Board Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her significant contribution to the advancement of psychological knowledge. For over 30 years, Roz’s work has focused on understanding and improving psychological treatments, with contributions to perfectionism, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and loneliness. In 1997, she was the first person to be presented with the Award for Outstanding Doctoral Research Contributions to Psychology. Alongside her research, Roz is driven by a commitment to ensuring that advances in psychological science translate into meaningful improvements in clinical practice. She also established the Charlie Waller Institute at the University of Reading in 2008, a leading institute for training and research in evidence-based psychological treatment.

Tamsin Lewis ONL (1987)

Tamsin has been granted the Janet Arnold Award by the London Society of Antiquaries for her work on the Greensleeves Project [https://greensleevesproject.uk/], an

Prof Roz Shafran (ONL 1988)

Kathreena is deeply honoured to be appointed Vice President of the British Neuropathological Society, with the role of President commencing in 2028. She continues her work with resilience and good humour, supported by her two loving daughters, following the loss of her dear husband Gerard to a brain tumour.

Since 2013, her work at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health has included a focus on integrating mental and physical health within psychological frameworks. She has also made a substantial contribution to mentoring and supporting the next generation of researchers and clinicians, supervising students across career stages and fostering research capacity within the field. Source: BPS

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ONL News Rev Samantha Watts, née Lundie (ONL 1988)

1990s

Dame Antonia Romeo DCB, née Rice-Evans (ONL 1992)

Liselle Mei (ONL 1991)

Dame Antonia was appointed as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service in February 2026, leading half a million civil servants to implement the Government’s agenda, deliver essential public services, and lead reform of the Civil Service. She also acts as the Prime Minister’s principal policy adviser and Secretary to the Cabinet. This follows nine years as Permanent Secretary of three Government departments: the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and Department for International Trade. In these roles she has been responsible for national security, migration and borders, crime, prisons, probation, courts, trade negotiations outside the EU and promoting exports and inward investment.

Sami was made an Honorary Canon at Christchurch Cathedral in Oxford Diocese on 31 January, 2026. This honour recognises Sami’s long-standing commitment to work with young people through parish ministry, summer youth camps and, for the last seven years, as school chaplain at St George’s, Ascot.

Elaine Carlton (ONL 1989)

Prof Sophie Ratcliffe (ONL 1993)

Elaine produced Faked: Hunting My Online Predator, now on ITVX. It tells the true story of three women – strangers, living miles apart, forced to take matters into their own hands after finding faked profiles of themselves online, advertising them offering sexual services. They don’t know how their images were obtained and this fear seriously affects their relationships, jobs and lives. They each go to the police but when the authorities fail to identify anyone, the women take action. The documentary follows their hunt for justice during which they unravel a network of hundreds of unknowing victims and one man at the heart of it all. Elaine also produced the BBC Panorama: Antisemitism: Why British Jews Are Afraid, on BBC iPlayer. It highlights the rise in antisemitic incidents in the UK and examines how abuse, intimidation and violence aimed at Jewish communities has become more widespread. The Government’s independent reviewer of terror legislation says he believes the normalisation of antisemitism is making violence more likely.

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Liselle is a visual artist, writer and filmmaker. Her award winning short films and documentaries have screened internationally at festivals, cinemas, museums and on television; her short stories have been published in two anthologies. Liselle’s artistic practice encompasses stone carving, clay sculpture and photography. Drawn to imperfection and the unexpected, Liselle specialises in the lith process, hand printing photographs in the dark room to enhance painterly textures, mystery and grain, showcased in her online gallery, Lumei Prints (www.lumeiprints.com). She has exhibited her work in group shows and was the winner of the Gordon Undy Mono Award for her print, Jali. Liselle had her first solo exhibition, BETWEEN WORLDS, in November 2025 at the Clara Street Gallery in Sydney, showing a selection of lith photography and sculpture, connecting the human form with the poetry of nature and light. Liselle’s work can be found on her website, www.lisellemei.com

Sophie has been named as the 2026 recipient of the E.M. Forster Award by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The $20,000 award recognises an outstanding writer from the United Kingdom or Ireland, and previous recipients include Julian Barnes, Carol Ann Duffy, Jeanette Winterson, Kate Atkinson, and Alan Hollinghurst. Sophie’s writing explores the intersections of literature, philosophy, history, creative criticism, and fiction. Her publications include The Lost Properties of Love (2019), published in the United States as Loss, A Love Story (2024), and On Sympathy (2008). Alongside her writing, Sophie is Professor of Literature and Creative Criticism at the University of Oxford.

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ONL News

Nadia Finer (ONL 1996)

Alexis Lambert, née Rose (ONL 1996)

Nadia is on a softly spoken mission to help shy people be more mighty. She is the UK’s leading shyness expert; the author of three books about shyness – Shy and Mighty (published by Quercus), Shy and Mighty for Kids (published by DK), and Quiet Riot (published by Moon + Bird in April 2025) – and a coach specialising in shyness. She is excited to introduce her new book, QUIET RIOT, was published by Moon + Bird on 29 April 2025. Quiet Riot is a beautiful collection of 40 inspiring stories celebrating the triumphs and successes of shy people from all over the world – athletes, writers, explorers, inventors, artists, singers and activists. Aimed at young readers aged 7+, the book shows that softly spoken people are trailblazers too – in their own quiet way. Nadia wonders how things might have been different if she’d had a book like this to read when she was young. Nadia knows what it’s like to struggle with shyness. All her life she’s had a little voice. Really little. The kind of voice that makes random people tell her she should be a cartoon voice-over actress. A voice so little that when strangers ring her house phone, they ask her to put her mum on the phone. It’s no wonder she’s often shy and self-conscious! She believes that shyness is not a weakness, or a shameful secret. Shy people are not broken. And they don’t need to change who they are. They have so many talents and gifts; it’s time for them to step out of the shadows, because the world needs to hear their voices. Nadia is a regular speaker in organisations and schools around the country. She has appeared on Radio 4 Saturday Live, Woman’s Hour and ITV News. She has also been featured in The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent and Good Housekeeping.

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Alexis married Will on 9 August 2025 in the Cotswolds, celebrating with family and friends in a beautiful countryside setting. The couple met through their shared love of theatre. Now living in South East London, they share a love of travel and adventure and their wedding marks the start of their next chapter together.

Victoria Hayward, née Kruger (ONL 1998)

Bernice Morris (ONL 1998)

Bernice has a new position as The Penny and Bob Fox Senior Conservator of Costume and Textiles at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA. In this role, Bernice will oversee the preservation, conservation, display of the Museum’s encyclopaedic 30,000 object costume and textile collection. Bernice has a special interest in the preservation of works by Elsa Schiaparelli, and recently took part in preparation for the V&A exhibition Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art.

Victoria is a Psychoanalytic Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist who, for the past 16 years, has worked in community and specialist CAMHS Teams, the charity sector, schools and in private practice. Working with parents of teenagers with mental health difficulties is an area of particular clinical interest - both as a practitioner and as a supervisor - and she has been engaged in a research study, which has just concluded, to investigate the efficacy of an intervention for parents who feel they need support in understanding their adolescent’s mental health, when the adolescent themselves is not receiving any treatment. Victoria has also co-authored a chapter entitled ‘Reaching for the Unreachable: working with parents of adolescents who struggle to engage’ in the recently published book ‘Psychoanalytic Crisis Work with Adolescents’ (Routledge, 2026).

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ONL News

2000s Kim Sanett (ONL 2002)

Since her teenage years, the London Marathon had always been on Kim Sanett’s bucket list. However, after completing the Brighton Marathon last year, Kim was adamant her marathon career was over. Then Cherry Lodge Cancer Care offered her a charity place. A charity that has supported a number of Kim’s colleagues and members of her wider school community, Cherry Lodge provides free specialist cancer information, emotional support and complementary therapies for people living with cancer, as well as those closest to them across Barnet and Hertfordshire. The marathon itself was definitely a challenge, with Kim spending many blistered miles promising herself she would never run again if she made it across the finish line. The amazing crowds, together with support from family, friends and her Foulds School community, helped carry her through and she crossed the finish line and raised over £3,870 for Cherry Lodge. Despite repeatedly vowing “never again” during the race, Kim may have already entered the ballot for next year!

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Emma Bord, née Pollard (ONL 2003)

Stephanie Newman (ONL 2004)

Emma is a mum, personal trainer, marathon runner, and women’s fitness coach specialising in pre and post-natal exercise. With 14 marathons and two ultramarathons completed, running has become both a personal passion and a platform to inspire and support others through movement.

Stephanie Newman was so pleased that Cherry Lodge were able to offer her a place to support them and take on the amazing challenge of running the London Marathon, knowing that every penny raised would help those affected by this terrible disease.

In 2025, she achieved her Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal after completing the six major marathons - London Marathon, New York City Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, Berlin Marathon and Chicago Marathon - while raising money for the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, a charity that saved her husband’s life in 2019. More recently, Emma has focused on running with purpose beyond personal achievement. After qualifying as a guide runner, she partnered with the Richard Whitehead Foundation to support a runner with complex mental health challenges in completing the London Marathon - an experience she describes as one of the most rewarding of her running journey. Alongside continuing her own racing journey, Emma is preparing to launch her debut book, Mum Power, designed to support and empower women returning to exercise after having a baby, both mentally and physically. Instagram: @emmabordpt

Sadly, too many of Stephanie’s friends and family have been diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, with treatments improving, some of the outcomes have been positive, but far too many have not. She felt that if there was anything she could do to support the journey, then it would help, even if only in a small way. When she was younger, Stephanie always dreamed that she would run one marathon, and that it would be London. She broke that promise four years ago when she ran the Barcelona Marathon for TRIBE and the Alzheimer’s Society after being unable to secure a place in London. However, running her home marathon while raising money for such an amazing cause remained a dream. She was hugely inspired by a close family friend, who ran marathons when she was little, and showed her that women can run marathons later in life. Stephanie was wary about taking on marathon training again, particularly after being diagnosed with Crohn’s the previous year, which had limited her training more than she would have liked. But with a great cause to support,

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ONL News

she embarked on 23 weeks of training through what must have been the wettest winter, often battling huge doubts about whether she could make it. February was particularly challenging, when, after a stressful period at work and a lot of travel, she felt she could barely run for five minutes again. With the support of the Coopah running coaches, together with the encouragement and sponsorship of friends and family, Stephanie was so pleased she kept going. Race day proved to be the most amazing experience, and Stephanie was incredibly proud to have run every step – something she had never achieved in any previous long-distance race. She finished with a personal best, taking 12 minutes off her Barcelona Marathon time, and, most importantly, raised more than £3,000 for Cherry Lodge.

Priya left the corporate world in 2025 to pursue a more creative and purpose-led path. What began as a personal hobby quickly evolved into a growing business focused on craftsmanship, creativity and mindful connection. Through The Creative Knot Co, Priya now teaches workshops where participants learn to hand-make their own bags in a relaxed, screen-free environment. Passionate about encouraging creativity and confidence, she hopes to inspire others to explore modern fibre arts in a fresh and contemporary way.

Grace Link (ONL 2016)

Deadline: https://deadline.com/2026/04/ locker-room-talk-pearl-mackie-chizzyakudolu-grace-link-1236858960/ The series also highlights two charities: BRCA Chat, which supported one of the lead actors through her breast cancer treatment, and The Pachamama Project, a global period poverty charity (which has been recently working with NLCS Singapore). Those interested in following the series can find updates on Instagram and TikTok @LockerRoomTalkSeries, and on YouTube via Grace’s production company’s handle @BagLadyFilms.

Elisabeth Joyce (ONL 2018)

Her support crew were incredible, giving her the determination to keep going even after painful blisters appeared at the 10mile mark. Knowing they were cheering her on, including her wonderful nieces, kept a smile on her face throughout the race. She almost didn’t want the experience to end.

2010s Priya Changela (ONL 2011)

Grace recently completed writing/ producing an independent short form series titled Locker Room Talk, the show is lead directed by Amanda Boyle (Skins, Chloe) and is set for release this summer on YouTube. Set in the most exposing place on earth, the women’s changing room: four women, Gen-Z to Gen-X, unwittingly become each other’s emotional support system. As towels come off and defenses drop, the series humorously and honestly unpacks the complexities and contradictions of how women see themselves. Locker Room Talk unpacks the societal systems that keep women trapped in cycles of negative self-talk — and the small acts that help break them.

Priya is the founder of The Creative Knot Co, a London-based creative business specialising in handmade crochet bags and workshops. After a decade in banking, where she worked in leadership and strategy roles within private banking,

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More about the project can be found in The Hollywood Reporter: https://www. hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/ grace-link-youtube-series-amanda-boylelocker-room-talk-1236507526/ The cast: Pearl Mackie, Kerry Howard, Chizzy Akudolu, Florence Andrews, and Grace Link was recently announced in

Elisabeth is thrilled to have recently joined the Advanced BRAIN Health Clinic research programme within the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health at Imperial College London. The clinic’s work focuses on the brain health of retired athletes, an area of growing importance and recognition. This role combines her academic background in neuropsychology and experience supporting brain injury survivors with her longstanding passion for sport. Although she is relatively new to the position, Elisabeth is thoroughly enjoying the variety of the role, including patient-facing interactions, working with blood samples in the laboratory, participating in stimulating research discussions, and attending regular conferences. She is excited to continue gaining valuable clinical experience alongside advanced research opportunities, contributing to this important and evolving field.

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ONL News which certainly made the months of training easier! Thanks to the incredible generosity of her friends, family, and supporters, she raised over £1,500 for Cancer Research UK. Crossing the finish line was a moment Poppy thought would never be possible and it felt incredibly rewarding. She has already entered the ballot for the London Marathon 2027 and hopes to take on the challenge again.

2020s Izzy Brand (ONL 2021)

Kiya Nirmala (ONL 2022)

After completing her Master’s at Loughborough University, graduating with First Class Honours and receiving a prize for academic excellence, Izzy has recently begun her career at Manchester United FC, working with the Men’s First Team as an Elite Support Specialist. She plays a key role in optimising athletic performance through the applied use of data science and advanced sports technology. She leads the operation of STATSports systems across training, rehabilitation, and matchday environments, coordinating live data streaming to deliver accurate, real-time physiological insights to the coaching and performance staff.

Poppy Mann (ONL 2022)

Neethu Haridas, Teacher of Biology & ERP Lead (2021-2024)

Kiya’s journey in music began at NLCS, where a nurturing environment allowed creativity to grow alongside her. From performing in the First School Hall to the PAC, singing became a constant throughout her school years. With dedication and drive, she has now released her debut single, Moments, a milestone shaped by years of growth and passion. She hopes it inspires other girls to trust their voice, pursue their ambitions, and know that with perseverance and creativity, their aspirations can become reality.

Honorary ONLs Deborah Gibbs, Deputy Head Pastoral (2010-2023)

Running the London Marathon for Cancer Research UK was an unforgettable experience and one of Poppy’s proudest achievements. After successfully getting a ballot place, Poppy decided to run for an important cause

ONLINE Magazine

a reality. Further motivated by her own mother, who had been suddenly diagnosed with cancer and passed away very quickly at the same age Deborah is now, she decided that 2026 had to be the year. Having taught young people since 1986, she was delighted to be accepted onto the Teenage Cancer Trust’s team. This UK charity focuses on improving the experience of young people aged 13–24 with cancer, funding specialist hospital units, expert nurses, and youth support teams within the NHS. Deborah loved the whole experience from the months of training in the cold and wet to the thrill of running through the streets of London, encouraged and supported by the incredible crowds.

Inspired by stories from some of the 2025 London Marathon runners, Deborah decided to turn a distant dream into

Miss Haridas officially becomes Mrs Haridas, marking a joyful new chapter following her recent marriage. She celebrated with a month-long honeymoon, travelling through Switzerland, Netherlands, France and Mauritius, with a memorable first visit to Disneyland Paris, which she thoroughly enjoyed. After 17 years of teaching science in secondary schools, including a particularly rewarding experience at North London Collegiate School, during which she also worked as a freelance science writer for BBC Bitesize, she has now taken the step into entrepreneurship. She has founded The Study Hive, a science specialist tutoring company that draws on her extensive experience and passion for education, and she wanted to extend her sincere gratitude to all those involved in shaping her journey and refining her craft as she takes this next bold step forward.

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ONLs in Print

ONLs in Print Fiction

A Horse Called September by Pat Davidson, née Stott (ONL 1951)

My Sister’s Secret by Jane Corry, née Thomas (ONL 1974) There’s no one like a sister….Rosy and Amy have never got on. After all, they’re very different. But between them lies a secret; one they’ve sworn to keep safe, whatever the cost. Enter James, Amy’s new psychiatrist with a dark past of his own. When he suspects that the two sisters are covering for each other, something becomes clear. Three’s a crowd - and one of them has to go.

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The Decadence by Leonora Craig Cohen (ONL 2011) Leon Craig’s debut novel, The Decadence, about a group of six hedonistic friends who go on an illegal pandemic holiday to a haunted house, and find themselves confronted by their own prejudices and betrayals, was published in 2025. The paperback is out in August and is available from Sceptre Books, as is her gothic short story collection Parallel Hells (2022). Her writing has also featured in Hazlitt, the Jewish Chronicle, the London Magazine, the Sunday Times and elsewhere.

2026 marks another landmark for with Audible releasing more of Anne’s famous Trebizon books and a 50th anniversary edition of her debut novel A Horse called September {Dobson Books 1976}. When she came to NLCS in the 1990s to address a hall full of Trebizon fans, many claimed to identify parts of Canons as its inspiration!

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ONLs in Print

Non-Fiction

First Term at Trebizon by Anne Digby aka Pat Davidson, née Stott (ONL 1951)

Pelican Boots by Laura Jane Stanton (ONL 1994) If you take a visit to St. James’s Park, you might just spot a certain bird gawping at the tourists and fishing in the lake. That’s normal behaviour for a pelican, right? So, what’s he doing walking around an art gallery and having dinner with a young woman on a rainy day in London? Well, it is the first day of April so anything is possible, isn’t it? After all, some pelicans just need a little bit extra in life, a chance to stretch their wings and their minds! Join Bill on his cultural big city trip and see life through the eyes of a rather unusual bird!

ONLINE Magazine

New girl Rebecca Mason arrives at Trebizon, the famous boarding school, after everyone else has already made friends. Lonely and anxious to prove herself, Rebecca writes something for the school magazine, which unexpectedly triggers a row and half the school turns against her. Luckily, she discovers she has friends after all, the best friends any new girl could hope for. The first exciting book in the classic Trebizon series. ‘As warm and comforting as a cup of cocoa, the Trebizon books are a real treat.’ Katherine Woodfine, author of The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow ‘An absolute hug of a book, this is school storytelling at its warm, delightful, comforting best.’ Robin Stevens, author of Murder Most Unladylike

Punk & Pistolry by Stephen Palmer (Honorary ONL) Stephen Palmer’s latest book has received great reviews. “Punk & Pistolry, A History of Punk” examines the extraordinary two years between 1975 and 1977 during which punk rock exploded into mainstream British society. Written with passion and precision and including brand new interviews with critical individuals and youthful fans, the book goes from early influences to the brutal, dark conclusion, with Sex Pistols imploding under the stress of publicity and public loathing. ‘Well researched and executed, this book balances the presentation of facts with entertaining stories and makes for a fantastic read... A terrific book.’ [NetGalley review].

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ONLs in Print

Psychoanalytic Crisis Work with Adolescents Chapter 9: Reaching for the unreachable: Working with parents of adolescents who struggle to engage by Vicky Hayward, née Kruger (ONL 1998) and Paul Bell As Child & Adolescent Psychotherapists, we spend many years training in how to work with young people who are struggling with their mental health, reflecting on how to support them with their relational difficulties and developing ways of being with them to create a therapeutic space that can foster change and growth – but what do we do when they don’t want to see us, when they are unwilling or unable to engage in psychotherapy or, for that matter, therapy of any kind? What can we do that can impact on their worsening state of mind, their increased risk-taking or their deteriorating relationships? How can we reach the unreachable? In this chapter, the authors use their considerable experience of working with parents of adolescents in crisis to explore the themes encountered in such work and the efficacy of parent work in helping to improve the adolescent/ parent relationship and overall crisis presentation. They focus on a model of time-limited evidence-based parent work – Open Door’s Approach to Parenting Teenagers (APT) – and illustrate the theoretical underpinnings of such an intervention with detailed clinical vignettes amalgamated from their work as both practitioners and supervisors.

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The Documented Child: Migration, Personhood, and Citizenship in Twenty-First Century U.S. Latinx Children’s Literature Chapter 9: Reaching for the unreachable: Working with parents of adolescents who struggle to engage by Maya Socolovsky (ONL 1991) The Documented Child shows how the portrayal of Latinx children in the U.S. has changed over the first two decades of the 21st century in children’s literary texts. This period was marked by tremendous changes in US immigration policies, public debates about US identity, and an increasingly militarized border. Socolovsky argues that these shifts map onto broader changes in immigration policy and discourse, and a literary shift from hybrid transnationalism to more Americanoriented child protagonists. The book explores this change as a necessary survival strategy, reflecting current awareness that cultural hybridity and transnational identity are not sufficient stand-ins for the stability and security of legal personhood.

Empirical by Gita Ralleigh (ONL 1988) Empirical explores immigrant life, domesticity and motherhood through poetry which traces how inherited myths, contested histories and political tides pattern our lives. Poet Mona Arshi called it, “A gorgeous book; there are so many moments of transcendence in Empirical, a collection which sets ‘the blood singing.’” Gita is a poet, writer, and former doctor. Her previous poetry books are A Terrible Thing and Siren and her two children’s novels are The Destiny of Minou Moonshine and The Voyage of Sam Singh. She teaches creative writing at Imperial College. Empirical is available now from https://thebraag.co/shop/

“The Documented Child is a beautifully written and thoughtful examination of citizenship, nation, and migration in U.S. Latinx children’s literature. It offers brilliant and close analysis of a broad selection of texts that range from juvenile novels to chica lit to picture books. This study is essential” – Phillip Serrato, author.

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ONLs in Print

Life After School: Dyslexic and Taking on the World! by Margaret Rooke (ONL 1979)

Cash Cow by Alev Scott (ONL 2005) A timely exposé of the global fertility industry and the commodification of the maternal body. ‘A powerful, intimate and disturbing exploration of the hidden markets built on women’s bodies. Alev Scott has written a book that will change the way you think about family, fertility and the future’ Professor Peter Frankopan ‘Captivating, mind-boggling and deeply disturbing’ – Maureen Freely ‘Humane, thoughtful and urgent — this book will make you think, make you laugh, make you cry, but also make you burn with rage’ – Dr Mary Wellesley Should surrogacy be a paid service, an altruistic act – or even legal at all? Is it right that you can pay more for ‘VIP’ egg donors – and to view their photos? How much, if anything, should breastmilk cost – and who should be allowed to buy it?

ONLINE Magazine

The global fertility industry is rapidly growing, hugely profitable and morally complex. This is an industry where one person’s biological bad luck can be another person’s financial gain. From egg freezing to black-market breastmilk, the maternal body has never been more commodified, yet the ethical, emotional and economic implications are rarely considered. Cash Cow lifts the lid on how the IVF, surrogacy and milk industries operate around the world and who is profiting. Through a combination of undercover reporting and detailed first-hand accounts – including a surrogate of 12 children, an international embryo courier and a man who buys breastmilk for his IBS – author and journalist.

When you’re dyslexic, schooldays can feel like a daily grind. Here Margaret Rooke interviews young people with dyslexia who explain how life has worked for them when they leave the classroom behind. These personal stories reveal the strategies that mean they could find the careers that suited them. They show that after a wrong turn, there’s always another chance, if they use their ability to think in different and creative ways and they keep their self-belief intact. A book to reassure and inspire teenagers, parents, teaching staff, and others about the future that lies ahead. www.margaretrooke.com

Alev Scott explores the blurred line between exploitation and empowerment. This is a timely and groundbreaking investigation into the impact the fertility industry has on individuals, and how desire, desperation and commerce intersect.

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ONLs in Print

Build Strength and Confidence and Feel Like You Again

Guiding you through your post-baby fitness and wellbeing journey

Good Faith – Why England Needs Its Church

How to Build A Chocolate Bridge

by The Rev Canon Angela Tilby (ONL 1969)

by Roma Agrawal (ONL 2001)

Good Faith seeks to reclaim the history of the Church of England and to assess its future in the life of the nation. It shows the strength of continuity through the years of the Reformation and beyond and why in more recent years it seems to have lost its way. Yet crisis is also opportunity and Good Faith explores the Church as a bulwark against the negativities of secularism, a support for those of other faiths, and a voice in national life which is both pastoral and critical. Angela Tilby is a priest of the C of E, who worked for many years for the BBC, and after ordination trained clergy for their ministry. She is a regular columnist for the Church Times and broadcasts on the BBC’s Thought for the Day. “Wise, wry, rich, nuanced, penetrating and highly accessible analysis from one of our brightest and best-known commentators on religious and current affairs in Britain today.” Martyn Percy, Research Professor.

Can you make a skyscraper out of pasta? How about a rocket from meringue? As an engineer and a BIG fan of chocolate, Roma herself has often wondered whether a bridge could be made out of chocolate. This might sound impossible (and delicious), but you don’t know until you try... With seven interactive building projects, kids will find out what is possible, while learning about the science behind awe-inspiring inventions. They will also get to meet some of the world’s most innovative scientists, who dare to experiment with wacky materials to create something great.

Mum Power by Ella Bord, née Pollard (ONL 2003) Mum Power is your guide to rebuilding strength, restoring confidence and feeling like you again after having a baby. Whether you’re newly postnatal or further along on your journey, this book is here to support you every step of the way. Written by personal trainer and mum of three, Emma Bord, Mum Power combines expert guidance with real-life experience to help you safely return to exercise and rebuild from the inside out. From core and pelvic floor recovery to returning to strength training and running, Emma provides simple, effective plans designed to fit into busy life. Alongside this, you’ll find support with nutrition, daily movement, mindset and confidence, plus a guided journal to track your progress, answers to common questions and honest insights from other mums on the same journey. This book will empower you to overcome barriers, rebuild trust in your body, and rediscover your strength – physically and mentally. Stronger body, stronger mind, stronger mum

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ONLs in Print

Advances in the Neurolinguistic Study of Multilingual and Monolingual Adults by Aviva Lerman, née Polus (ONL 1999) This edited volume examines current themes in the neurolinguistic study of multilingual and monolingual adults and highlights several new directions the field is moving toward. The organization of the book is as follows. Part I focuses on language processing in multilingual and monolingual adults, Part II explores language processing in multilingual and monolingual adults with dementia, and Part III centers on language processing in multilingual and monolingual adults with stroke-induced aphasia. Chapters feature empirical data and/or literature reviews, discussing the key issues in the field that are currently engaging scholars and practitioners with topics including language attrition, cognitive flexibility, aging and the brain, eyetracking studies of aphasia, translanguaging, and multilingualism in dementia. The book includes cutting edge research from researchers and practitioners who are all alumni and colleagues of Professor Loraine K. Obler, to whom this book is dedicated.

Designing and Building Reality in Hindi Film by Clare M Wilkinson (ONL 1978) Despite Hindi (aka Bollywood) film’s reputation for escapism, achieving visual reality in Hindi film sets and locations has become vital in the 21st century, even in major commercial films. This book examines how and why this is done, and who does it, drawing the reader into the thoughts and actions of the entire art department, from production designers to carpenters. Their work reveals a little-known side to the film industry that is indispensable to the filmmaking enterprise. An academic publication, the book was published at the end of March 2026 by Edinburgh University Press. This is Clare’s third monograph (and second one on Hindi film production).

Crowded Platforms and Window Seats: One Family’s Interrail Adventure by Judy Yorke, née Monti (ONL 1986) Thirty-five years after her first interrail trip around Europe as a student, Judy Yorke found herself zipping across the continent by train once more, this time with her husband and teenage son in tow. This book is an account of her family’s adventures involving 3,000 train miles, 16 locations and a suitcase with a squeaky wheel. Judy also takes a nostalgic look back at her first trip and offers advice and tips to help anyone inspired to interrail themselves. Her next book, Back on the Tracks, about interrailing at the age of 40+, is to be published next May.

Presenting crucial topics in, the book is highly relevant for students, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and language disorders.

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ONL News

The Best Books I Have Read in the Last Decade by Nadia Odunayo (ONL 2010)

Nadia Odunayo (ONL 2010) is the Founder and CEO of The StoryGraph, the fast-growing book-tracking and recommendations platform with over five million users. Launched in 2019 as a small side project, it has become a thriving, reader-focused community known for its detailed analytics and mood-based recommendations. As the company’s sole developer, Nadia combines product vision with hands-on engineering. Community features such as Buddy Reads and large-scale Readalongs sit at its heart. Nadia studied PPE at University College, Oxford, before retraining in software engineering. An avid reader, she particularly enjoys fiction, alongside weightlifting and dance in her spare time.

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Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Fiction The Eighth Life (for Brilka) by Nino Haratischwili I cannot believe I read this 950-page book and wasn't bored once. An epic multi-generational family saga spanning a century, meshed in with a history of Georgia and the Soviet Union, with airs of mystery, sadness, and darkness. A magical story. My current all-time fave book. Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb I was so immersed in this world, loved the variety of characters and storylines. Even though it’s technically standalone, I recommend reading Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy first. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo The writing is gorgeous, lyrical, poetic, and yet incredibly accessible. The characters are so real and human that I missed them in between reading sessions. There are many common themes running through the stories but the connections never once feel contrived. The Secret History by Donna Tartt I was nervous to reread a book I've been calling an all-time favourite for 15 years, but I'm delighted my love

ONLINE Magazine

for it has stood the test of time. The writing is incredible — just enough detail and lyricism to make the characters and scenery come alive. The Alienist by Caleb Carr I was hooked: sucked into the characters and on the edge of my seat. I especially loved the development of the idea of using a psychological profile to catch a killer. Non-Fiction Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer This book was gripping, chilling, harrowing. The desire to climb Mount Everest has never appealed to me and this book made it all the more wild. It feels like the closest I'll ever get to doing something like that. Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe I knew essentially nothing about this part of history and it took me a little time to get situated, but once the context was set in mind, I was hooked. I love narrative nonfiction where I'm learning a lot but also feel like I'm reading riveting fiction, and Keefe's writing delivered just that. He’s my favourite nonfiction author now.

Atomic Habits by James Clear I learnt so much from this book and that's coming from someone who thinks they're already pretty good with discipline, habits, and routines. Applying a bunch of the techniques and revisiting my notes on this book continue to help me get closer and closer to my dream lifestyle and life systems. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah I laughed out loud while reading this book — including on public transport — sooo many times. I learnt so much about South Africa and apartheid, and when the tone shifted from the funny to the serious, it really hit. Bad Blood by John Carreyrou I remember hearing about the rise of Theranos and Holmes as it was happening so it was fascinating reading this behind-the-scenes account. It's the kind of book that if it was fiction you'd say it wasn't believable. Yet this was investigative journalism at its finest.

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Dates for Your Diary 07.09.2026

Summer Drinks with ONLs vs Students Lacrosse and Netball Matches

20.09.2026 Open House Festival: North London Collegiate School - Canons House Explore the history and architecture of Canons House as part of London’s annual Open House Festival.

25.11.2026 NLCS Professional Network – Finance Hosted by Natalie Baskind, née Parnell (ONL 2007)

10.12.2026 Wreath Making Workshop

Celebrate the festive season by making your own Christmas wreath.

20.01.2027 NLCS Professional Network – Management Consulting Hosted by Cassandra Yong (ONL 2011)

11.05.2027 Honorary ONL Drinks with Summer Play

16.05.2027 Decades Reunion

22.03.2027 and 23.03.2027 NLCS Giving Day

Join the NLCS community in a celebration of giving and collective impact.

16.03.2027 NLCS Professional Network – Civil Service Hosted by Gabrielle Gower, née Kruger (ONL 1994)

For the Classes of 1977, 1987, 1997, 2007, 2017

20.06.2027 Half Decades Reunion For the Classes of 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2022 and all celebrating 65+ anniversary years

Full event listing and booking details can be found at:

04.05.2027 An Evening with English novelist and poet, Valerie Mendes, née Barnett (ONL 1958)

If you would like to host future Professional Network events, please contact onla@nlcs.org.uk.

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Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Thank You

Thank You We are deeply grateful for the incredible generosity shown by our ONL and Honorary ONL volunteers, who continue to generously support the school with their time, talent, treasure, ties and/or testimony. Over the past academic year, you have shared career advice, delivered inspiring talks, helped with University interviews, offered work experience and industry insights, sat on panel discussions, led Chapters, helped with ONLINE magazine and so much more. Your involvement has greatly enriched the experiences of our whole school community. We want to say a HUGE thank you!

If we have missed you from this list, we sincerely apologise. Your support is deeply appreciated – thank you! Interested in volunteering? Get in touch at onla@ncls.org.uk.

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Thank You Danielle Adewusi (ONL 2016)

Anika Bhargava (ONL 2025)

Safia Danovi, née Ali (ONL 1996)

Laura Hanna (ONL 2005)

Dara Adu (ONL 2024)

Anushree Bhattarcharjee (ONL 2024)

Sejal Haria (ONL 1994)

Roma Agrawal MBE (ONL 2001)

Bella Bhavsar (ONL 2025)

Laura d’Arcy, née Crowley (ONL 2000)

Inayah Ahmed (ONL 2020)

Hiral Bhudia (ONL 2025)

Andrea Akwiwu (ONL 2020)

Nadia Blackshaw (ONL 2014)

Julie Alberg, née Mills (ONL 1985)

Mia Borgese (ONL 2020)

Maddie Alberg (ONL 2020)

Sophia Breslauer (ONL 2016)

Rachel Aloof, née Dean (ONL 1992)

Ellie Brogden (ONL 2024)

Nadia Angeli-Lye (ONL 2024)

Maya Caddle (ONL 2015)

Nayani Anpalagan (ONL 2010)

Amy Chalom-Perez, née Chalom (ONL 2006)

Reena Badiani-Magnusson (ONL 1998) Anya Bailur (ONL 2025) Saibhan Bains (ONL 2019)

Sophia Chamerblain (ONL 2025) Sarina Chandaria (ONL 2017)

Aria Banerjee Watts (ONL 2022)

Susan Chaney, née Danger (ONL 1987)

Reva Banthiya (ONL 2023)

Aanya Chokski (ONL 2025)

Ellie Bard (ONL 1999)

Michelle Clayman (ONL 1971)

Susannah Baron (ONL 2020)

Jane Cole (ONL 1972)

Robina Barson (Honorary ONL)

Mandy Collins (ONL 1973)

Amedra Basgaran (ONL 2012)

Lara Cooper (ONL 1997)

Amy Mae Baxter (ONL 2015)

Jane Corry, née Thomas (ONL 1974)

Annecy Bell-Stevens, née Stevens (ONL 2018) Debbie Benstein, née Kestel (ONL 1980) Charlotte Bentata (ONL 2025)

Reva Croft (ONL 2021) Keira Cumming (ONL 2022) Tofunwa Daniel (ONL 2024)

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Ilora Datta (ONL 2025) Nikki Davis, née Roback (ONL 1997) Puja Dodhia (ONL 2014) Sophia Doss (ONL 2024) Kate Driscoll (ONL 2023) Saraah Ebrahim (ONL 2008) Eleanor Engle (ONL 1977 / Honorary ONL) Alayna Faisal (ONL 2025) Dorothy Farley, née Coode (ONL 1955)

Ali Harris, née Bell (ONL 1982 / Honorary ONL) Fathima Hidayathulla (ONL 2025) Alana Hockridge (ONL 2024) Kate Hofman (ONL 2003) Zahra Hussein (ONL 2025) Zoe Ilivitzky (ONL 2011) Emilia Isaacs (ONL 2020) Rachel Jeal (ONL 2012) Priya Jogia, née Jatania (ONL 2003) Sofia Johanson (ONL 2019)

Michelle Ferris (Honorary ONL)

Veronika Kachingwe (ONL 2025)

Margaret Fotheringham (Honorary ONL)

Rupal Kantaria, née Sachdev (ONL 1998)

Patsy Franks (Honorary ONL)

Fiona Karet (ONL 1979)

Sally Fryer, née Turner (ONL 1974)

Anjali Karia (ONL 2009)

Vivien Godfrey (ONL 1979) Tanvi Gokhale, née Patel (ONL 1996) Emma Gower (ONL 2024) Gabrielle Gower OBE, née Kruger (ONL 1994)

Rebecca Kearey (ONL 1988) Poppy Kettle (ONL 2013) Sailee Khurjekar (ONL 2017) Cara Kliman, née Wides (ONL 1995) Roshni Kumar (ONL 2021)

Megha Gupta (ONL 2025)

Emma Kwek-Pollet (ONL 2022)

Aiyana Halstenberg (ONL 2025)

Noureen Lakhani (ONL 2014)

Hope Hancock (ONL 2025)

Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Thank You Tiana Lakhani (ONL 2021)

Dania Obstfeld (ONL 2022)

Sonia Ramyead (ONL 2025)

Shivvanthi Sugumar (ONL 2020)

Ludmila Lakobachvili (Honorary ONL)

Lauren O’Donnell (ONL 2010)

Tina Rashid (ONL 1998)

Gillian Tett OBE (ONL 1985)

Michelle Lavipour (ONL 2006)

Nadia Odunayo (ONL 2010)

Ella Rawal (ONL 2025)

Dara Thaker (ONL 2021)

Pam Lea, née Toyne (ONL 1972)

Emilia Ord (ONL 2023)

Elisa Remme (ONL 2022)

Prerna Thakkar (ONL 2023)

Fleur Lee (ONL 2022)

Elizabeth Oswald, née Hammond (ONL 1962)

Nysa Rodrigo (ONL 2025)

Ria Thakrar (ONL 2022)

Anusha Roy (ONL 2024)

Hestia Tuet (ONL 2025)

Shula Pannick (ONL 2006)

Hephzibah Rudofsky, née Kohn (ONL 1982)

Camilla Turner (ONL 2009)

Laura Parker (ONL 2006)

Sonal Sachdev Patel (ONL 1998)

Linda Parr (ONL 1970)

Alana Samji (ONL 2025)

Harriet Parsons (ONL 1999)

Sharmila Sani, née Nandwani (ONL 1990)

Kate Parsons (ONL 2024)

Lily Schauer (ONL 2025)

Anita Patel (ONL 2000)

Katharine Scott (ONL 1999)

Eesha Patel (ONL 2021)

Alpa Shah (ONL 2004)

Kavita Patel (ONL 2014)

Deepa Shah (ONL 2007)

Nishka Patel (ONL 2016)

Mahi Shah (ONL 2024)

Ria Patel (ONL 2020)

Sarita Shah (ONL 2013)

Ria Patel (ONL 2022)

Shreya Shah (ONL 2024)

Roma Patel (ONL 1996)

Talisha Shah, née Thakrar (ONL 2008)

Jessica Peng (ONL 2020)

Sandya Sivakanthan (ONL 2021)

Olivia Pollett (ONL 2025)

Simone Smith, née Caplin (ONL 2006)

Caroline Powell (Honorary ONL)

Emily Spungin (ONL 2020)

Laura Pyke-Jean (ONL 1987)

Natasha Spungin (ONL 2023)

Gita Ralleigh (ONL 1988)

Hilda Stoneley, née Cox (ONL 1945)

Isabelle Lever (ONL 2021) Lauren Levine (ONL 2018) Emma Levy, née Roston (ONL 2002) Kezia Levy (ONL 2019) Emily Lucas (ONL 2021) Tafadzwa Machengo (ONL 2020) Anastasia Malugin (ONL 2021) Anantaa Manglani (ONL 2025) Ghanage Manimaran (ONL 2025) Poppy Mann (ONL 2022) Lina Marandet (ONL 2025) Thivi Maruthappu (ONL 1999) Valerie Mendes, née Barnett (ONL 1958) Fiona Millen (ONL 1984) Isha Mistry (ONL 2025) Riya Mody (ONL 2019) Anna Moulds (ONL 2021) Jo Newman, née Caspari (ONL 1976 / Honorary ONL) Stephanie Newman (ONL 2004)

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Amirah Otulana (ONL 2021)

Livia Ursina Parker (ONL 2024) Ava Vahidansari (ONL 2024) Ralitza Vanguelova (ONL 2024) Prisha Verma (ONL 2025) Olivia Wayne, née Godfrey (ONL 2003) Laura Weller (ONL 1990) Rachel White (ONL 2019) Payal Fara Wilcock, née Shah (ONL 2007) Fiona Jessica Wilson (ONL 1990) Zoe Wimborne (ONL 1987) Dame Anna Wintour (ONL 1967) Jo Woolf (ONL 1991) Francesca Wormald (ONL 2007) Ruth Yimika Afolabi (ONL 2006) Sadie Zenios (ONL 2022) Jenny Zhan (ONL 2023) Silvia Zhu (ONL 2025)

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From the Archives

Lara Kirkland, NLCS Archivist

Miss Isabella Drummond

NLCS Headmistress 1918-1940

little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in little things is a very big thing,” Isabella Drummond. This year’s Founder’s Day was focused on NLCS’s third Headmistress Isabella Drummond. Credited with the ‘discovery’ of NLCS’ current home of Canons, whilst on a country walk in Edgware, she then oversaw the school’s move there, which was accelerated by the outbreak of World War II.

Yet I found when I began my research that Drummond is not talked about as much as her predecessors - I hope to use this article to amplify her many achievements. Described as a tiny figure with a deep voice, Isabella Drummond combined the distance yet warmth of a Headmistress typical of her peers. Those who did not know her could find her aloof and unapproachable; yet it was said that laughter was often found in her company. Born in Hampstead in 1877, Isabella Drummond was the youngest of nine children. Her father, Dr James Drummond, was the principle of a training college of intending Unitarian Ministers. She was educated at Oxford High School, and, studying from home, read Natural Sciences at Oxford achieving First Class Honours. Drummond taught at Loughborough and Edgbaston High Schools before taking up a position as a Science Mistress at North London Collegiate School in 1908. Six years later she became the Headmistress of Camden School for Girls, and although her term was only four years, she clearly made her mark, having improved the overall standard of work. When she applied for the Headship at NLCS, one of her referees, Cloudesley Brereton, a London County Council school

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inspector, praised her skills as an organiser, concluding that Drummond was ‘both conservative and progressive’. Miss Sophie Bryant told her successor to remember that schools were growing and living things which had to change and develop. Drummond clearly took this on board, later describing the North London tradition of ‘constant change and development’. It is clear from her decision to move the school that she was able to introduce change without destroying traditional values. Move to Canons In 1927 it was decided that the move to Canons was essential as it was situated in a site of good accessibility for a majority

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Miss Isabella Drummond, NLCS Headmistress 1918-1940

of girls. Miss Drummond and the Governing Body of Canons were extremely efficient and well organised, and these characteristics were necessities when war broke out. It was Miss Drummond’s “very clear mind” and “rigidly high standards” which brought about the move she so greatly longed for and envisaged. In those days, it must indeed have taken great courage for a woman to administer the matters, and communicate with the authorities concerned, some of which seemed rather narrow minded and overkeen to create problems. In December 1938, the new building began, and the workmen developed personal interest and a desire for perfection due to Miss Drummond’s interest and enthusiasm. In February 1939, the first brick was laid, quite informally, by Miss Drummond; the second by Dolly Langton, the youngest girl of the school; and the third by Miss Turpin, the Bursar. Miss Drummond often came to visit the building and watch the progress; she obviously knew the value and beauty of good craft work.

Miss Drummond laying the first brick in 1939 (NLCS Archive Reference no. 1377)

Social Work Miss Drummond was also interested in social work and reform, giving much of her time to the prison service. She was an Education Advisor to HM Prison Holloway for women and went there often. The school staff, who put on entertainment for each other and for the school, went out to the prison to perform plays. Miss Drummond continued Dr. Bryant’s practice of giving a talk to the school on Wednesdays and her notes show that she often spoke of prisons, of the need to reform them, and the need to break down prejudice against those who had a conviction. It was also under Miss Drummond that the Frances Mary Buss House was opened. In 1919 it was suggested by Helen Bartram, Headmistress St Pancras School, that the ONLs should be responsible for social work in the local area. Miss Jevons, a friend of Miss Drummond, suggested Bromley-by-Bow, then Stables and land were purchased and repurposed. The house and plans were announced by Miss Drummond at Founder’s Day in 1927, celebrating the centenary of Frances Mary Buss’s birth with the service held at Southwark Cathedral. The FMB House provided activities for local school children such as clubs, camps, classes and societies, which weren’t otherwise available to them. Isabella Drummond clearly made an impact on her students - Mary Sutton was taught botany in the Sixth Form by Miss Drummond whom she described as ‘the best teacher I have ever met’. And just in time for this year’s Founder’s Day, the school was lucky enough to receive a transcript of memories from Dr Hilda Stoneley, née Cox (ONL 1945) of Miss Drummond, in which she states: “She was kind and strict, busy and friendly and determined that everyone should do well.

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Miss Drummond was a little lady (we thought she was large, she wasn’t). She wanted us to look out for shy or unhappy girls and never tease anyone.” Miss Drummond had a profound impact not only on the school’s history but also on her colleagues and students. I am hopeful that after her recognition this Founder’s Day, Isabella Drummond will be revered just as much as her predecessors. Lara Kirkland, joined NLCS as Archivist in November 2025. After studying Classics with Egyptology, she completed a postgraduate qualification in Archives and Records Management at the University of Liverpool in 2023. Before joining the School, she worked part-time at the Bishopsgate Institute in London, held roles at the Essex Record Office and volunteered on a community heritage project with the Surrey History Centre. References: • The NLCS archives • NLCS Magazines, 1918-1940 • Hodgkinson, E. & Muir, M. (1950) ‘I. M. Drummond and the School’, in The North London Collegiate School, 1850-1950: A Hundred Years of Girls’ Education. Oxford University Press, pp. 92-106 • Thank you to Dr Hilda Stonely, née Cox (ONL 1945) for donating an oral history of her school memories to the archive. We are grateful for any donations of historical material, as they provide meaningful insights into the school’s history. If you would like to know more, please contact us at archive@nlcs.org.uk.

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From the Archives

Helen Arney

Re-discovering Ethel Sargant (1863 – 1918), ONL 1881

The life of botanist, Linnean Society fellow Ethel Sargant (ONL 1881) has inspired a new British musical: ‘The Cambridge First All-Ladies Fire Brigade’. Helen Arney shares what she has discovered about this eminent ONL, and how it has shaped the character of Ethel on stage.

Since 2023, I’ve been creating a musical based on real-life stories of women scientists with writer Brian Mackenwells and composer Jenni Pinnock. Our new show follows five young women studying at 1880s Girton College, Cambridge on their journey from naive, earnest students to confident, accomplished graduates. Along the way, they form a Fire Brigade to protect themselves from harm but soon realise they have a bigger fire to fight, in the battle for equal rights to education, to work as scientists and – eventually – to vote. One of our crew is a young Ethel Sargant, who left NLCS for Girton in 1881 to study Natural Sciences. As we’ve researched her life, we’ve uncovered details that have been hiding away in archive collections for decades. Through exploring the NLCS archive and other sources, we’ve discovered that the extraordinary Miss Sargant still has the power to surprise us today! “Combing nature’s hair” Described as ‘gifted and distinguished’, Ethel was born in 1863. The Sargants were a comfortably rich London family that counted judges, headmasters and artists amongst Ethel’s siblings.

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Ethel Sargant (source: NLCS Archives) At Girton, she did not excel in the notoriously challenging Tripos Exams, emerging with mostly Second and Third Class grades. In the NLCS archives we found an obituary which confirmed our suspicions. Ethel believed that “Any large amount of teaching or organising work would stifle the power of original thought” and that academics “Comb Nature’s hair too much” Clearly, conventional university life was not for Ethel.

“Pernicious and degrading” Searching Girton’s archive for more nuggets of character gold, we quickly found some. Ethel was a member of the Debating Society, and in May 1883 she chose the subject. E. Sargant proposed that ‘Early Rising is a pernicious and degrading practice.’ K. Birrell opposed. Ayes, 14; Noes, 24. Ethel hated mornings so much she was prepared to defend her beliefs in a public forum - and was voted down 2 to 1! At Girton’s archive we also discovered that Ethel was briefly Captain of the Fire Brigade, hosted late night lemon squash parties and founded the ‘Bookworm Society’. We’ve placed each of those delicious moment in the show, and they never fail to make the audience laugh. “Howling wilderness” After Girton, Ethel was briefly employed at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, but for the most of her working life stayed at her family’s home in Reigate, caring for her mother and sister. This was no barrier to her scientific research, however, as she created a

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fully functional botanical laboratory in the garden. From there, she published several revolutionary studies of Lilium martagon, or Turk’s Cap Lily. Ethel employed as her lab assistant another NLCS alum, Agnes Arber, née Robertson (ONL 1897), paying her the same wage that any man would expect. She also coached Agnes towards her own prestigious career in botanical research by suggesting she study at Newnham instead of her beloved Girton, writing with her usual dramatic turn of phrase: “Science is abominably neglected at Girton… the lecturers deplorable… the laboratory is a howling wilderness” Ethel stayed a lifelong friend and mentor to Agnes despite their deep political differences: Agnes did not think women should be given the vote, but Ethel believed the opposite. “Pure 18th century” In 1904 Ethel became one of the first women elected as a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, the pinnacle of any natural scientist’s professional career. Two years later she became the first woman to sit on its Council, but in the meantime wrote a

British Association Meeting of Botanists in 1913: Ethel Sargant, front and centre (source: Courtesy of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA) few private thoughts to a friend: “I attended my first Council meeting last Thursday… the atmosphere was pure 18th century… the physical air can hardly date from earlier than 1870 or so, and intellectually we were quite late in the XIXth century”

The Cambridge First All-Ladies Fire Brigade in action

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“No vote, no tax” In 1914, while living what looked like a genteel, ladylike retirement near Cambridge, Ethel was actively breaking the law as a form of protest. She refused to pay the King’s Taxes until women were given the vote: “No Taxation Without Representation!” With a debt of nearly £10 – around £1,500 today - the local Collector of Taxes turned up to seize her property and sell it off. But Ethel turned the auction into a huge Protest Party, inviting dozens of guests from London and Cambridge, and a journalist who wrote it all up for the Daily News. Sadly, Ethel’s death in early 1918 meant she

never got to use the vote she had been campaigning so hard for. A true suffrage scientist By digging deep into the archives, our first, fuzzy impression of Ethel have exploded into colour. Yes, she was a privileged pioneer, who carved her own path in botanical research, but also a rebellious spirit who broke the rules to fight injustice – and never missed an opportunity to support a sister in science. We can’t wait for audiences to meet our version of Ethel on stage soon! Helen Arney is one third of science comedy supergroup “Festival of the Spoken Nerd” and also writes musicals. Find her on social media at @ helenarneycomedy and at helenarney. com, where you can find out more about free performances of “The Cambridge First All-Ladies Fire Brigade” throughout 2026.

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From the Archives

Moments We Remember It is often the smallest details that stay with us: a familiar tradition, a much-loved teacher, a shared joke or an ordinary school day. Together, these recollections offer a vivid portrait of life at NLCS and the experiences that continue to connect generations of ONLs and Honorary ONLs. I remember we all used to have a daffodil to hold during the Founder’s Day service. One girl got bored and ate her daffodil! She felt very ill that evening! Gill Comley, née Brand (ONL 1973)

taller Sixth Formers heard my cry for help. They managed to haul me out and practically carried me up to School. There was no heating there due to the acute coal shortage, so we were ‘allowed’ to keep our hats, coats and gloves on. NLCS resilience!

I remember getting slightly fixated on tactics for Budge Square. Also bringing my mum’s wooden pestle and mortar into school to mix up berries in Hollow Hedge behind the tennis court. We had some kind of hair salon I think and needed shampoo. It certainly fired our imagination having such beautiful grounds. In the summer we would sit in the long grass at the bottom of Lime Avenue staring up at the blue sky and had lessons outside under the cedar tree. Rachel Oakes (ONL 1993)

Lilian Gellnick, née Salmons (ONL 1951)

Every Christmas season I remember Caroline Senator, Head of the French Department and also leader of the Jewish community in school. She, it was, perhaps in 1956, who taught the upper fifth French class to sing Minuit Chretiens. This was a new carol to me (and I knew very many) and not long after became generally sung and widely known as O Holy Night. Thank you, Miss Senator! Virginia Tashian, née Youle (ONL 1958) During the Great Snow of 1947 I was 14, in the Upper Fourth and under 5 feet tall. It had been snowing heavily for some days but School hadn’t been closed! As I walked along Canons Drive I became stuck in a snowdrift and couldn’t budge. Fortunately, two

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The Year of the Yank Miss McLauchlan greeted us in the foyer - impeccably attired in a dress with blue flowers matching her eyes. My father was on Sabbatical, and I Israeli born but American raised - was to spend the year at NLCS. I let myself be led into Monday morning assembly by Mrs. Newcomb. The beauty of the hall transfixed me, but the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer terrified me! I gripped Mrs. Newcomb’s arm and blurted, “I am a Jew!” as if it was the Spanish Inquisition. She laughed and said many of the students were. I took my seat and – in time – also found my place. What a glorious year it turned out to be! Daphna Stepen, née Boros (ONL 1982) EB Day It doesn’t seem that long ago Since we joined the Upper Third – Future selves in embryo: Sixty-two years? How absurd. Subjects that were new and foreign, School vocabulary to confuse: Perron, Red Square, Rabbit Warren, Wishing plates and outdoor shoes, Playing underneath the cedar, Daffodils on Founder’s Day, Lots of youthful joie de vivre,

Singing Personent Hodie – Queuing up at break for biscuits, Secret strange outlandish names, Writing fanmail on bus-tickets, Playing Man from Uncle games – Through the memories well-trodden, Thick and fast the name-checks come, Scrimgeour, Rose-Innes and Godden, Mr. Jasper and Miss Jum. The mystery of EB Day, Greek Stories and Sir Patrick Spens, And ‘Neuter plurals end in A’ – and most of all, the joy of friends. Thanks to Jen who ran the WhatsApp, God bless Frances Mary Buss, Here’s to present, past and future, Here’s to our school, and here’s to us. Rosemary Waugh, née Dix (ONL 1971) An enduring memory is of walking into Canons by Copse Gate and seeing the wide vista of the Old House, terrace, Cedar, herbaceous border, Lime Avenue and playing fields spread out in front of me. Then, from elsewhere, the restrained dignity of the hall and new school, the rose garden, Temple, the swimming pool, the pond, Daisy pitch, and even the coach houses and rustic boathouse, all surrounded by trees and bushes. How blessed I was to live the eight years of my school life in the serenity of those open spaces and the freedom we had to enjoy them. Katharine Weale, née O’Connell (ONL 1965) As I approach my 90th birthday I think back fondly to my time at North London, I have so many happy memories… I remember very clearly being

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Moments We Remember My sisters Doreen, Pamela and attended NLCS together dur I ing the 1950’s. We are now all in our 80’s. Two special memories: 1950 celebrated the schools Centenary. A Tableaux Vivants was pre pared, depicting school life in the 188 I was in the ‘gymnastics’ sce 0’s. ne, the third on the right, led by teacher Miss Rhona Lewis. PE 1955 The Mary Done outdoo r swimming pool, donated by the parents of a former pupil, wa by The Duchess of Glouce s opened ste School Captain that year so r. I was del to be the first person to jum egated p pool. The unheated pool wa into the s Left, in the row of students freezing! at the pool, and raising ‘three che ers the Duchess as she left the ’ for school Old House. Hilary Fowler, née Weller (ON L 1955)

on the train going home from school soon after I’d started, Dr Kitty Anderson got on and she said “Hello Adele are you settling in? I hope you’re happy here.” I couldn’t believe she knew my name and was so touched that she cared. However, I definitely don’t have such good memories of the school dinners! It wasn’t easy to get them down sometimes, especially when the teacher in charge stood behind us to make sure, we cleaned our plates! I was lucky enough to go back to school recently and couldn’t believe what a wonderful lunch we had, things have definitely changed, for the better. I was also bowled over by all the facilities and new buildings.

My greatest trigger is Personent Hodie. From the age of 8 I loved the opening of the Carol Service when the procession of Senior pupils filed out of the doors by the stage. I looked forward to being part of that moment, but by the time I got to the right age it became Choir members only. I was so disappointed! Founders Day hymns and psalms take me right back too, of course, especially to my proud memory in Form 2 of leading my side of the hall in the daffodil procession. (Miss Lewis and slow measured steps).

My granddaughter teaches in the Junior School and we were introduced to her class. They all just stared at me and my daughter, Anna, and couldn’t believe that we both once walked in their shoes. Because the war was just finishing it wasn’t easy to get school uniforms, so if you couldn’t get it you were allowed to wear ordinary clothes. Adele Beverley, née Selby (ONL 1954)

I took my Common Entrance examination on 6. May 1945, two days before the end of WW11. The most memorable moment from that day is my interview with Dr Anderson, later Dame Kitty. Having read the suggested books, I was asked the question ‘What is a Portcullis? I was mortified that I could not remember and thought that I would fail the exam.

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Elizabeth Levings, née Stagg (ONL 1962)

Thankfully. I did pass the exam and spent six happy years at NLCS. The choice of my chosen career of Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy was encouraged by very dedicated staff. Hazel Adamson, née Andrews (ONL 1951) On marriage in 1961 we moved to the highest village in the Chilterns in Hertfordshire. Within a few hours of moving in, Miss Edith Cross (retired Teacher of Geography and school archivist) arrived on our doorstep. She had been living in the village for many years. I had always been in awe of her, but we became great friends. After our son was born she became a good babysitter, and later took him on educational geography walks which he enjoyed. Retired members of staff were brought round to tea to ‘see the baby’. Hazel Adamson, née Andrews (ONL 1951)

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From the Archives

Memories of North London Collegiate School I joined the North London Collegiate School Art Department in the mid1960s having trained at Edinburgh Art School and Middlesex Polytechnic and taught at St Michael’s secondary modern school in Camden for a brief time. While at Edinburgh I had met Peggy Angus, a former pupil at North London Collegiate School, artist and teacher, and later Head of Art at NLCS. Peggy was friends with Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious and shared their love of the Sussex countryside. When I joined the art department there was Peggy Angus, Moy Keightley, Molly Cook, Jasmine Rose-Innes, Gladys Anderson, and Ewan (Jim) Henderson, all respected artists as well as educators. Peggy was dynamic and inspiring and her approach to teaching art influenced the outputs of the whole department. She thought it important to study the work of past artists, to draw from life and observation, and explore different

concepts of design, techniques and materials. Murals and printmaking were hugely important to Peggy; many students, me included, learnt how to print wallpaper under her tuition. Some examples of her wallpaper – handprinted with the help of her students - survive in the Old House. She encouraged adventurousness, curiosity and craftsmanship. Drawing and painting from still life and life drawing with models was the backbone of the teaching of art in those days, the 1970s until the 1990s. Talks on the history of art, and visits to London art galleries and exhibitions – even occasionally to Paris - were all part of the art education at North London. On Founder’s Day the walls of the art rooms were covered in the girls’ best work in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics – and even puppet-making thanks to Molly Cook’s skills. I enjoyed painting sets for school productions and executing two large murals in the school hall. My years at NLCS were very happy and

fulfilling; it was rewarding to see girls go on to become successful artists, and sometimes to teach alongside them, such as with Eleanor Engle. The beautiful grounds at Canons were a source of inspiration for teaching art as well as being a source of tranquillity and calm between lessons. Robina Barson, Head of Art, 1965 - 1998 I am 92 years old and cherish my NLCS memories as Secretary to Commander Corby (the Bursar) for 3 years and then Secretary to Miss Madeline McLauchlan (the Headmistress). Working for Madeline was an education for me and a superb experience. I still enjoy returning to NLCS for Founder’s Day and to St Paul’s for special occasions. One incredible memory was when Sir Thomas Jephcott (Chairman of the Governors) gave me 3 lbs. of sugar to help feed my family of five during the Cuban crisis when food was so difficult to get! So many happy memories. Jean Reynolds, Secretary to Miss Madeline McLauchlan, 1972 - 1988 I lived so close to school that it seemed just an extension of the environment I had always known, fishing with my brother in the Basin Pond and pedalling through the ancient Spinney at the top of Canons Drive. From September 1951 until December 1960, the beauty of Canons, the spirit of the place, its sense of history were a constant inspiration. The pioneering ethos elevated books above elegant plasterwork but we learnt from both. New buildings have enveloped some of the green we loved. People have gone, but this piece of England stays in my heart always. Lesley Wardle, née Wells (ONL 1960)

Robina Barson and Moy Keightley

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The Blood and Squash Club (1950s era) I entered the school in Form I. Miss Pusey's form, in 1950. the year of the Centenary.

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Moments We Remember My best friend was Adrianne Trevor, now Smythe. Her father David was a bone surgeon at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Stanmore. We were both fascinated by the "Macabre" and it was agreed we could witness an operation. Sadly, we both had colds and could not attend. We enjoyed scanning her dad's medical books and drooled at the sight of dreadful deformities like the photo of a man whose testicles were so enlarged, he could only get around on a cart on wheels. Inspired, we founded a club called “Blood and Squash". Members had to undergo initiation rituals, including drinking "Blood and Squash" concoctions we made while my mother was out using cochineal and sauces. The only time I have made a cake was our "tarts" using similar ingredients and oats. Adrianne's dad had a Roneo machine, like a photo copier. We had learnt about "Penny Plain Tuppence Coloured Pamphlets" so set about producing our own. We described medieval tortures maybe inspired by a school trip to the Tower of London where our lust for blood was nurtured. We also cast spells and told vulnerable members they could not leave the deserted cottage (later the Bursar's office) until we released them. Some consequently were late for lessons. Sadly, none of our pamphlets survive. They were constantly confiscated. We were also inspired by piracy and walking the plank. I had hoped to grow up to become a swashbuckling buccaneer! A MALE... Instead, I grew up to become a folk singer, potter and later creator of a well-known garden in Muswell Hill. I EVEN became a teacher at NLCS Mrs Bennett. I can STILL cast spells. Now they are for "Healing". Susan Bennett, née Rose (ONL 1961 / Teacher of Art 1983-2000) I am going to Mrs Shepherd’s…

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Shrouded in blossoming trees, removed (barely) from the hustle of the Junior School, a welcoming calm aura pervaded the NLCS Medical bloc. This was entirely due to Sue’s presence. Her windows gave on to the pre-patient scenario: her wise diagnosis, made in transit, as the girls limped, bled, vomited and wept enroute to her knowledgeable, organised sphere of orbit, around the community that is ‘school’. Sue’s down-to-earth wise counsel, depth of clinical acumen and calm welcome made the bloc a backstage, ‘costume off ‘portal for all staff to come-to, un-burden, express-milk, or meet their pastoral hubs, ad hoc or by invitation. The mutual trust and Sue’s example of what it is to be the School’s Clinical Lead - at all times, (most of which was when I was off-site in my role as ‘local GP’,) was something to be grateful to be a part of. We had constant communication and conversation. Our Practice’s Medical Students from UCLMS were, fortnightly, taught about just what it is to have a fantastic clinical colleague, who could spot a girl in emotional difficulties within 5 minutes of entering a Form Room, or indeed in the enormity of the Hall. After we had worked together for a couple of years, Sue agreed to develop Befriend Your Boobs (BYB), an intervention in breast cancer, lifestyle, genetics, self- examination, a workshop initiative for Sixth Form students. This was in response to the premature demises of Nicola Goldfarb and Denise Pannick, both ONLs: the first, a beloved Chemistry teacher, the second a previous Head Girl, with their own girls just in the Junior School. We worked together with the Psychiatrists from the Royal Free, and Mrs Dee Francken and Mrs Jo Newman, in workshops to support the staff of the Junior School in preparation for bereavements. Had it not been for the huge support of Heads Mrs Bernice McCabe

and Dr Hazel Bagworth-Mann, this workshop would not have evolved into the project of today’s BYB. Now supported by Mrs Bingham, BYB has expanded to over 35 schools, teaching Medical Students as copresenters, and for over 960 doctors in their Vocational Training for General Practice. It is based on our Practice’s research, showcased on our Instagram page @befriendyourboobs (www.befriendyourboobs.org). We are and always will be, the best of friends. Sue, thank you. Dr Michelle Ferris (School Medical Officer 1999-2020) My first memory is being thrilled to have my uniform (despite its brown colour, now not mentioned!) and the unusual cockade, which I kept until I left School and donated to the NLCS archives. I remember dinner tables of ten, with a server and two orderlies. The main dish had to be divided between all ten (unless someone was away. Then the tenth portion was divided between nine!). We learned to behave, hold our cutlery correctly, and make sure that all had what they required. Stodge was standard (suet sponge roll and custard, and stodge with raisins) - remember there was still rationing after the war. I also remember Founders’ Day and the daffodil procession and singing Personent Hodie at Christmas. At 88, I still know most of the words! I recall the opening of the swimming pool (paid for by the parents of a student who died) and the Pamela Flower Tennis Cup. When selected for the second team, I got a blue badge for my blazer, and a yellow one for the first team. I recall “Red Square”, “Perron”, and “Stone Paths Only” announced during a wet dinner break. I loved School and was lucky to have been educated at NLCS, where I made long-lasting friends. Alison Roscoe, née Bisset (ONL 1956)

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In Memoriam

All death notices and obituaries featured in ONLINE are based on notifications received by the Alumnae Office. If you would like to notify us of a death, or submit an obituary, please contact onla@nlcs.org.uk. Obituaries are also featured on the In Memoriam page of the school website

Death Notices

Jean Renow, née Calderwood (1925-2022), ONL 1943

We are saddened to share news of the following deaths and remember them all with fondness. ONLs: Eileen Degenhardt, nee Pegley (ONL 1945) Elspeth Kerrison, née Gibson (ONL 1947) Lady Sonia Wood, née Farrant (ONL 1947) Margaret Cockerill, née Evason (ONL 1948) Mary Westland, née Stack (ONL 1949) Barbara Bond, née Yarroll (ONL 1952) Helen Crockett, née Wray (ONL 1955) Ann Monteith II, née Pearson (ONL 1956) Shirley Cranmer-Brown, née Coop (ONL 1957) Anne Findlay (ONL 1960) Judith Fletcher, née Wilkinson (ONL 1962) Joanna Stanfield, née Sands (ONL 1962) Margaret Dolling, née Warner (ONL 1963) Dr Gisèle Earle (ONL 1963) Ruth Jackman, née Peirson (ONL 1963) Sandie Corbett, née Ball (ONL 1975) Honorary ONL: Marion Weaver, Teacher/Head of History (1964-1990)

Born in Birmingham, in June 1925, Jean was the eldest of five children. She and her brother, John, formed a close bond, considering their three sisters, Jill, Joy and Judy, to be the ‘Little Ones’. John was sent to boarding school but all 4 girls attended NLCS in Camden. Their mother was a doctor, working six days a week, and their father was an engineer and a prospector in Central and South America who met whilst studying at Birmingham University.

nothing more so we went back home.’ The school was split between two locations, each with half the teachers. ‘We only went half a day, some of us went in the morning, then you were supposed to stay at home and do homework. Paper was very short. We didn’t have many text books and they didn’t have any answers. We could only write in pencil, so once you had learnt the page you had to rub it out so you could use it another day. We all had to go into this shelter. We had quite a lot of air sirens because it was quite near balloons that they sent up to stop enemy planes getting too close. The head girl’s house was bombed. Some of the teachers were killed. It was after the war that the other half (of the school) came back but I left before that.’

Jean spent her time reading and drawing, she felt happiest with a pencil in her hand. She pored over her mother’s medical books and drew diagrams of how to sew up wounds. Their parents worked on Saturdays and the children were given jobs to do – Judy did all the ironing, Jill and Joy cooked meals but Jean seemed to get away with doing very little. They were a sporty family. Jean was also a sea ranger.

Her hobbies as a teenager were ‘making aeroplanes and painting and drawing. I used to make planes that had elastic bands inside and you would wind them up and it would go. I had cards of birds by the artist Peter Scott that I carefully drew and redrew. I liked running and I would go to the park to run on the grassy patches and hide in the bracken and trees on a picnic. We would do races and get stuck up trees and you could do what you liked, nobody told you what to do. As a late teenager, a motorbike. I rode it to school a few times and then was told not to because it wasn’t suitable. As a late teen I used to drive to work. I would do the driving and dad would sit in the front. It was an Austin 7. It had a handle in the front to make it spark.’

When war broke out, they went to Wales. The younger children stayed in a barn with their mother, whilst Jean and John were in a nearby house. ‘We stayed there for about a month, at the time there was no bombing in London. They had a few alarms but

When she left school Jean worked in the drawing office at De Havilland, a British aircraft company, first at Edgware and then Hatfield. She joined a walking group and met Joan who lived nearby. Joan had an elder half-brother, Sidney. Jean and Sidney became good

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friends and married in 1949, living in a flat in Richmond before buying a house in Claygate. They had two daughters. Jean had two good friends with children of similar ages and together they enjoyed the Town Women’s Guild, tennis, walks, tobogganing and picnics. Early holidays were spent camping with the girls at Polzeath in Cornwall. Both Jean and Sidney took photographs, which they developed and printed themselves in a garden shed converted into a darkroom. They belonged to the Esher and District Photographic Society and often won prizes for their photos. They liked music and attended the opera at Glyndebourne for many years. From 1969 Jean and Sidney travelled abroad on holiday to places like Europe, America, Egypt, and China. In 1979, after a trip to New Zealand to visit Sidney’s other sister Gladys, and to see his childhood home; they bought a camper-van.

patio. She enjoyed family trips out – such as visiting Sir Peter Scott’s house at Slimbridge to see where he had painted birds on the estuary. Jean liked hearing about the careers of her four grandchildren and the exploits of the ten great grandchildren. She had a zest for life and adventures, she loved ‘tech’ and often was the first in the family to buy something new. She was mischievous and liked a joke; she was sociable and liked trying out different recipes; and she had a sharp, organised mind with a penchant for writing lists about anything and everything. She was 97 when she died in November 2022. Corinne Renow-Clarke Mary Fay Malin Dykes, formerly Draycott, née Sellers (1926-2026), ONL 1944

Throughout her life Jean painted and drew, attending classes or taking correspondence courses. She progressed to an Art History diploma from the University of London in 1969 and was an early student of the Open University, completing her Foundation Course in 1970, also the City & Guilds Life Drawing Diploma. She exhibited her work in local art societies’ exhibitions as well having one painting accepted for the Royal Academy Summer exhibition and another by NEAC. In the 1970s and 80s, Jean and Sidney worked every summer at Wroxeter Roman city, an archaeological site near Shrewsbury. Jean drew the small finds, and Sidney took all the photographs. They went on painting holidays together. Jean did all the driving and she loved her cars and speed. They gave her freedom to have adventures. She hated giving up her car, on doctor’s advice, at the age of 93. After Sidney’s death Jean stayed in their Claygate house, which was convenient for trips to London to see the art galleries, museums, and theatres. Two of her sisters and her cousin were also nearby. She moved to Cirencester in 2017, buying a retirement flat, making new friends and joining group activities. She always loved flowers and gardens and liked to tend her pot plants on the

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Mary Fay Malin Dykes, formerly Draycott, née Sellers, was known here as Tammy or Mrs D. To her brothers she was Ellen; to the rest of the family, Auntie Mary. She was born at Brooke House on the shore at Waterloo, Liverpool, into a large, close-knit Lancashire family. This large family was staunchly Lancastrian and decidedly non-conformist. A family of serious intent and substantive achievement, at the same time full of fun, teasing and laughter. I have no first-hand memory of her first fifteen years, but I was reliably informed by our mother that my arrival caused Ellen to burst into

In Memoriam tears. She had longed for a sister, not another brother. Although she denied it for years, she later admitted she had not cried for long before deciding this new one might prove more useful than the others. In 1935 the family moved to Blundell Sands, and a year later our father moved us all to Highwood Lodge, Mill Hill in North West London. Ellen attended North London Collegiate School where she met probably the first of her life-long friends, Mary Beatty, née Clowes (ONL 1945). At thirteen, she moved to Cheltenham Ladies’ College, where she became Head of House. It was there, and later helping on local farms during the war, that she discovered her love of farming. Determined to make a life in agriculture, she answered an advertisement in Farmers Weekly in 1946 and joined the Trueman family in Kent. For more than twenty years she worked with dedication and skill, hand-milking cows, driving tractors, fencing, managing livestock and mastering every aspect of farm life. Summer or winter, she loved it. Later, she embraced a new challenge as a magistrate. At Bromley County Hall she met Thomas Draycott, Clerk to the Magistrates. Mutual respect soon became affection, and they married. Moving to Oxted and later serving in Croydon, she became a highly respected Chairman of the Bench - firm, fair and deeply committed. They travelled widely and enjoyed many happy years together until Tommy’s death. Starting afresh once again, Auntie Mary became a founder member of the Eldon Housing Association in 1981, serving for decades and helping shape its success. The association remained close to her heart throughout her life. In 1986 she married Dickie and moved to Platt. Together they enjoyed travelling, particularly to Australia and Aberdeen to visit family. In later years she could often be seen buzzing around the village on her buggy, impeccably dressed, nails

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immaculate, calling on friends and family. She was a true people person: interested in everyone, a wonderful listener, generous with her practical advice, and blessed with a remarkable memory. She was the lynchpin of a family spread across England, Scotland, South Africa and Australia. Ellen embodied family, friendship and loyalty across generations. Above all, she showed extraordinary resilience, courage and fighting spirit, surviving a broken neck, a stroke and many other challenges. Living beyond one hundred, she would say, was “hard work”, but she never lost her sense of fun or her love of laughter. Most people may have an Auntie Mary. I am not sure anyone had one quite as exceptional as ours. John Sellers Edith Mary Calderwood (1929 – 2024), ONL 1947

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved aunt, Edith Mary Calderwood, who died on 17 December 2024 at the age of 95. Known to her family as Jill, she is survived by her sisters, Joy and Judy, her cousin Pamela Reid, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, greatnephews, and friends. Jill was born in Camden to Charles Roper Calderwood, an engineer and prospector, and Dr Agnes Sloan Robertson, a GP. She was the third of five children, Jean, John, Jill, Joy, and

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Judy, affectionately known as the “J’s”. Jill and her sisters Jean, Joy, and Judy all attended North London Collegiate School. After leaving school, Jill trained as a physiotherapist at the historic Westminster Hospital before going on to work at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. In 1954, she and her sister Joy embarked on their “Grand Canadian Adventure”, sailing from Liverpool to Montreal aboard the Queen Mary. After travelling across Canada by train, they settled in Vancouver, where Jill worked as a physiotherapist.

Jill was a much-loved sister, aunt, great-aunt, great-great-aunt, and doctor. She will be remembered for her kindness, intelligence, sharp wit, and direct, no-nonsense manner, as well as for her remarkable intuition and understanding of people. She touched the lives of many and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Charles R Woods Joy Anne Robertson Calderwood (1930 - 2026), ONL 1949

Returning to the UK in November 1958, Joy married, while Jill reflected on a long-held ambition. After ten years as a physiotherapist, she decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and study medicine. She began her medical training at Bristol University in October 1959. After qualifying, Jill worked initially as a GP in Norfolk before returning to the family home in Stanmore after her mother’s death in 1974. There she cared for her father while continuing to practise as a locum doctor. After his death in 1977, she accepted a permanent GP position at the Bushy and Carpenters Park medical centres near Elstree. In December 1978, she moved to Abbots Langley, where she remained for the rest of her life. Jill had a lifelong love of learning and an insatiable curiosity about the world. Her interests ranged from Egyptology, Roman history, poetry, science, and music - she played the violin - to the arts and literature. She earned a BA (Hons) degree through the Open University and was an avid reader, building a remarkable collection of books spanning both ancient and modern subjects. Travel was another of Jill’s great passions. After retirement, she and her cousin Pamela enjoyed regular trips together, exploring new places and cultures. At home, she took great pleasure in her garden and her beloved cats.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Joy Anne Robertson Calderwood, at the age of 95. Joy is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth; her son, Arthur Robertson Calderwood; her cousin, Pamela Reid; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends. Born in Hampstead to Charles Roper Calderwood, engineer and prospector, and Dr. Agnes Sloan Robertson, GP, Joy was the fourth of five children - Jean, John, Jill, Joy, and Judy, affectionately known as the “J’s.” She was the last surviving member of her generation. Joy and her sisters attended North London Collegiate School, where

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she distinguished herself in athletics, becoming Tennis and Games Captain. A gifted tennis player, she won the NLCS Pamela Flowers Cup as the 1947 Singles Champion and went on to win multiple tournaments, including the 1948 Essex Open Junior Girls Singles and Doubles. She would later play at Wimbledon. Joy studied Physical Education at Bedford College, graduating as a PE teacher in 1952. Her first position at Worthing High School brought immediate success, coaching the girls’ grass hockey team to an unbeaten season. In 1954, Joy and Jill set off from Liverpool for Montreal for their “Grand Canadian Adventure.” They travelled across the country by train before settling in Vancouver, where Joy taught in elementary schools. In Vancouver, Joy met Douglas Jung, MP, a young politician and WWII veteran. They married in Stanmore in December 1958. Returning to Ottawa, Joy embraced life as a “good politician’s wife,” charming Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and his wife Olive, as well as Doug’s Vancouver constituents. In May 1960, Joy gave birth to twins, Arthur and Elizabeth, a complete surprise. She embraced motherhood wholeheartedly, raising two lively children with boundless love and resilience. As they grew older, Joy returned to her studies, earning a BA from the UBC in 1980. After becoming a single parent, she worked as an ECG technician at Vancouver General Hospital. In retirement, she learned conversational Italian and French and made annual trips to England to visit her beloved sisters whereupon they set out for more adventures. Joy possessed a rare balance of sociability and quiet reserve, carrying herself with timeless grace. She could charm a Prime Minister just as easily as she could soothe an anxious cardiac patient. Her generosity, kindness, and empathy touched all who knew her. Arthur R Calderwood

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Barbara Meikle, née Warland (1932-2025), ONL 1950

In Memoriam

from Central Europe who were making an amazing contribution to Britain’s scientific community. She recalled attending a summer garden party and noting that several guests had numbers tattooed on their arms. Barbara was an active member of John Keble Church and joined the editorial board of its pioneering monthly magazine, Focus. In 1958 she became godmother to Caroline de CarteretBisson, whose family also attended John Keble. Caroline followed in Barbara’s footsteps to NLCS.

Barbara was born on 1st February 1932, the oldest of three children. Her parents Athol Baker and Charles Warland had met in the 1920s when they were both working at the Midland bank in Cheapside. The young couple settled in the new suburb of Mill Hill, north London, and were founder members of its Anglican church, John Keble. During the war Charles Warland was called up to fight in the Far East. Athol remained focused on ensuring that her children obtained good educations and Barbara had memories of doing 11+ practice papers in the family bomb shelter at the bottom of the garden. Clearly all the practice paid off as she was awarded a scholarship at North London Collegiate School. She enjoyed her time at NLCS, cycling to the school each day. She particularly liked playing hockey and tennis. In recent years she often spoke of her memories of living in London during the war, with her mother organising the family in working an allotment. Barbara also vividly remembered having her life saved as a teenager by the RNLI after she and a boyfriend got into difficulties sailing a dinghy off the south coast. At 18 Barbara started working as a medical secretary. Although she did not have a degree, her A level in Biology was enough to allow her to find work as a researcher in the human genetics department at UCH. Her eyes were opened to a life outside Mill Hill and in particular she enjoyed meeting with the large number of Jewish refugees who had arrived

Barbara enjoyed the company of men and never had any problems attracting male admirers. She received a number of marriage proposals both in the UK and when she spent a period working at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore. She was, however, pretty choosy and only settled down when she met her first husband, Sigurd Zienau, in the staff common room at UCL. Sigurd originally came from Berlin and was a physics lecturer who had arrived in Britain on a kinder transport as a teenager. When Sigurd went up to the genetics department to find Barbara, he was told that she had moved to the States. He watched out for her return and asked her out immediately; marriage soon followed. Barbara and Sigurd had two children, Varina and Matthew. They moved to a flat in Hampstead and life was full and very happy. Barbara enjoyed working at the under 5s play group in the local park and then retrained as a primary school teacher, obtaining a degree in education in 1975. Sadly, Sigurd died unexpectedly in 1976 of a heart attack only 6 weeks after Barbara had started her first teaching job. Varina and Matthew were 11 and 5 at the time. Although she was devastated, with her typical resilience Barbara picked herself up and started a new chapter as a full-time teacher and single mother. She took her children on several intrepid holidays in Europe, exchanging the flat in Hampstead for various properties in France, Italy and Spain. After a short period licking her wounds,

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Barbara started dating again. Following a few relationships and having rejected a marriage proposal from an old flame who was now a professor of medicine in Hobart, Barbara met and eventually married Alan Meikle, an architect working for Hereford and Worcester Council. Alan’s family came from Pershore in Worcestershire, so it made sense for them to settle and retire in Ledbury. Barbara and Alan spent many happy years of retirement sailing on Alan’s yacht (which they kept in Wales) and spending time with their family and many friends who always got a warm welcome in their lovely home, which was filled with Alan’s artwork. Barbara got involved with the annual poetry festival in Ledbury, rediscovered her love of tennis and continued with her yoga practice, which she had first taken up in Hampstead as a newly single mother. Tennis and yoga kept her in amazing physical health right up to the end of her life. For many years she travelled to London each week to look after her grandchildren so that Varina could return to work. Following Alan’s death, Barbara continued to volunteer in the heritage centre in Ledbury and continued to worship at St Michael’s and All Angels church, remaining a member of the choir. She also went on several holidays with her next-door neighbour Lorna where they both enjoyed sitting out in the sun with a few glasses of white wine. A few years ago, aged over 90, Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She very much wanted to stay in her own home till the end of her life, and this was made possible by the kindness and support of the community in Ledbury. Her funeral was held at St Michael’s and All Angels on 7th January 2026 and – at Barbara’s own request – the first hymn was New Every Morning, one of John Keble’s best-known hymns. Carrie de Carteret

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Judith Nancie Woods, née Calderwood (1932 - 2026), ONL 1951

front of the tele. Her claim to fame was beating a young Ann Jones, who later went on to become one of the leading tennis stars of her era. In 1954, Judy married Anthony Woods, known as Tony to Judy and friends, who trained as a dentist after being demobbed from the RAF at the end of the Second World War. He later went on to set up the first dental practice in Rustington, West Sussex. They went on to have four children, Charles, Nicola, Brian and Alison, and there ensued 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren to date!

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Judith Nancie Woods, who died at the age of 94 on April 16th, 2026. Judith is survived by her sons, Charles Robert Woods, Brian Richard Woods; her daughters, Nicole Michael, Alison Joy Brookes; and her cousin, Pamela Reid; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends. Born in Cholmeley Gardens, North West London on the 5th March 1932 to Charles Roper Calderwood, engineer and prospector, and Dr Agnes Sloan Robertson, GP, Judith was the youngest of five children – Jean, John, Jill, Joy, and Judith, affectionately known as the “Judy.” From an early age Judy showed a keen interest in plants and was allowed by her parents to have her own vegetable plot in the garden to help feed the family during the war before she was eventually evacuated to Llanberis in Wales to escape the Blitz. Her love of gardening and growing plants was lifelong. She had an extensive memory for plant names and how and when to plant them and particularly loved the smell of roses. Later she went to North London Collegiate School in Edgware where she developed a love for playing hockey and tennis. She remained an avid lifelong fan of tennis - Wimbledon becoming her annual summer break in

In the early years, Judy helped Anthony with the dental practice until she had her children. Later, she became a central figure at Riverslea Nursery School, originally founded by Pam Rivers and Joy Lea and based in Rustington Parish Church Hall. She eventually took over as Principal alongside her close friend Cynthia Hogbin. Judy is fondly remembered by generations of local families for her warmth, kindness and dedication to early years education. While Pam Rivers and Joy Lea founded the school, Judy and Cynthia are often most associated with its “golden era” in the Parish Church Hall. Former pupils frequently recall her as a reassuring and motherly presence who made the transition from home to school a happy one. Another of Judy’s lifelong passions was Girl Guiding. She enthusiastically passed on her guiding knowledge and camping skills to her children and later founded the 2nd Rustington Guide Company, which she ran for many years before eventually retiring through the Rustington Trefoil Guild. Judy was also a wonderful natural cook whose creativity in the kitchen worked in harmony with her gardening skills. Her family enjoyed a constant supply of fresh produce from the garden, transformed into something quite remarkable. Throughout her life, Judy loved cats and was rarely without one by her side. Whether caring for her family,

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supporting Tony through difficult times, teaching local children, or helping friends and neighbours, Judy was the heart of her family and community. She was a remarkable woman whose strength, resilience and quiet determination carried her through whatever life placed before her.

interior designers, until she retired.

She will be missed by many.

She married my father Bob Hancock at age 22 and was a loving and fun mother to me and my sister Debbie and then an engaged “nana” to her three grand-daughters, Isobel, Alice and Annabel. Her home, first with my father and then with her long-term partner Simon Derby, was a welcoming place for friends and wider family and she was always interested in the details of the lives of those around her. She taught my sister and I to have fun and be happy, as well as to prize our financial independence. She will be missed by her family and friends but her joy in life will remain with us.

Charles R Woods

Kathy Halliday

Pauline Hancock, née Morley (1941 - 2025), ONL 1959

Elizabeth Radford, née Elliott (1940 - 2025), ONL 1959

Throughout her life she kept a picture by her bed with the following saying: “It isn’t life that matters, but the courage with which you face it”. I think if ever there was one thing that defined her attitude to life more than anything else, it was that.

My mother, who died on her birthday on 28 March 2025 age 84 did not have a stellar professional career, but as she slipped away peacefully, she was surrounded by her family and will be missed not only by her family but by her many friends. She had the rare gift of finding happiness in all aspects of her life and helping those around her to be happy too. Having started at North London Collegiate at age 7 she resisted pressure to stay on into the Sixth form and do A’ levels so she could go to University and went to secretarial college. She worked first for Guiness as a secretary and then in secretarial and PA roles, mainly for architects and

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In Memoriam

including a “silent tableaux” with historic scenes set up and commentary spoken by the girls. She was involved in drama productions and worked in the library. She took field trips to Wales and the Peak District which she loved. Her father worked for Ovaltine and for the 1950 Olympia Food Fair she chose eight “sensible” classmates to work on the Ovaltine stand and be “Ovalteenies” – handing out samples and interacting with the public – a fun experience at age 10. You had to be 18 to go to university, so Elizabeth stayed in the sixth form for three years – a gap year was unheard of! She went to Bristol and became a Geography teacher, working in the UK and then in Barbados at the prestigious Queens College in Bridgetown. She helped set up the Barbados Schools Programme – where children gathered around the radio and listened to lessons writing the scripts and recording the broadcasts for several years. Her husband’s job took them to Cairo in the 1970s where Elizabeth was incredibly proud of helping to establish a new British school. After months of planning and securing funding the British International School Cairo opened in 1976 - it remains a thriving school 50 years later with an excellent reputation and 1000+ students.

Elizabeth Radford (née Elliott) attended NLCS from 1948-1959 and before she passed away she reminisced about her happy school life. She took the NLCS entrance exam aged 7 and was “interviewed” by Dr Kitty Anderson. She had to take an Underground train from Pinner to Wembley then to Canons Park and then across fields to school. Her family can’t believe she took the train on her own so young! Elizabeth recalled the excellent facilities - large playing fields, art and drama departments and a new swimming pool. She took part in the 1950 school centenary celebrations

Back in the UK Elizabeth and Neil established a language school in Kent and spent 25 years teaching English to foreign students as well as travelling. They retired to Manchester and Elizabeth joined the U3A continuing to learn about local history, arts and the theatre until her death. Her love of life, travel and education stemmed from her wonderful time at NLCS and she remained in contact with many school friends. Her children found all of her NLCS school reports carefully saved. Her lasting legacy is a love of education and of life. Kate Radford

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Despo Michael (1972-2025), ONL 1990

Despo and I both started at North London in the Upper Third. She had the sunniest disposition and the most infectious laugh, which stayed with her throughout her life. I recall fun school trips and giggles in our German classes with Ms Taylor and Ms Lachenmann. Despo embodied the North London spirit. Always calm under pressure and with amazing inner strength, she wore her incredible career success in the civil service very lightly. Despo held a succession of increasingly senior roles within the Foreign Office, always ‘close to the action’. Following a period working on the Afghanistan conflict, she became deputy head of the counter DAESH communications cell. Her final role was as head of the Counter Terrorism Department. Her dear friend and colleague Andrew Patrick (currently British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka) described her as warm, empathetic and good humoured. She was also known as hard working, clever and intensely practical, never playing office politics or trying to show off. Andrew said that she was always loved by staff and respected by her bosses and that there are many people at the FCDO who, like him, miss her hugely. Despite the undoubted pressures of her role, family and friends were what mattered to Despo. She was always there for you in her caring and thoughtful way. She also had an amazing zest for life. Despite the

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encouragement of Mrs Tabraham, Despo was never a huge fan of school sports, but more than made up for that in later life. Despo loved early morning British Military Fitness and running in Hyde Park, near her home, as well as Yoga and Pilates. She was also an avid theatregoer, loved reading and checking out the new restaurants in the neighbourhood. I honestly don’t know how she packed it all in! Despo never let her illness define her, and handled challenges with grace and dignity, without complaint. She is so very missed, and will certainly be forever in my heart. Two of Despo’s nieces have raised money to dedicate a bench in Hyde Park to her. More details can be found here Fundraiser by Alice Loizides : Despo’s Seat: The Hyde Park Bench Project and any additional funds raised will be donated to Coppafeel. The bench It is due to be installed in the summer (2026), and you are encouraged to seek it out and stop a while to remember an old North Londoner we can all be proud of. Nicola Raj (ONL 1990)

Samantha Candeggi (1977-2026), ONL 1996

- celebrations, milestones, teachers, epic school trips - skiing, the Ardeche, the Rouen French exchange, and we made friends for life - all of whom I’m sure are devastated and heartbroken at the thought of Sam not being here anymore. Sam was someone that was there at lots of our firsts! We’ll never forget being at the Milton Keynes Bowl watching her beloved GNR together for the first time. I think we were 14! What an experience. Sam’s kindness was something you felt instantly, and her love of music ran through everything she did. We’ll always remember the joy of our school tennis lessons, and the mischief of sneaking off together to climb the big tree in the school grounds. In our minds, she is forever that teenager - black tank top, denim shorts, a red tartan shirt tied around her waist - completely herself, completely free. And then there was her saxophone, played with such effortless joy that it felt like an extension of who she was. Sam we’ll all miss you more than we can explain. It’s hard to believe you’re not here anymore. I don’t think anyone who knew you will ever be able to listen to Guns ‘n Roses and not think of your blue eyes smiling and your whole face beaming - surely it’s not possible for anyone to have loved Axl Rose more than you did in your teens! We will always have Tenerife, and those long dinners filled with excited chatter - your spirit, your humour, your advice will stay with us always. In Axl’s words - we could do with remembering: ‘Don’t you cry tonight There’s a heaven above you, baby And don’t you cry tonight’

There are friendships you make in life that shape who you are, what music you listen to, who you laugh and cry with, who brings joy and smiles and teaches you so much more than words explain.

May your beautiful soul rest in peace.

Sam was one of those beautiful people. We experienced lots together

Ling, Fi, Rajul, Sophia, Anglie & Katie (ONLs 1996)

Sam lost her battle with bowel cancer at the age of 48 in Italy. She left behind her little boy, Paddy and her husband, Salvatore.

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Sinead Newman (1978-2025), ONL 1996

Although she didn't always feel it in the presence of so many brilliant women, Sinead was smart, sharp and uniquely creative. She did a masters in screenwriting and never forgave me for being a nepo-baby who got work experience at the BBC when we were 15. She wrote things that were dark, disturbing and utterly magnificent and was thrilled that her niece Maya was showing a similar interest in story. Thanks to her way with words, she had an impressive career in internal comms but I think she’d be annoyed if her obituary read like a LinkedIn profile. She lived and worked in glamorous locations like Abu Dhabi and Barcelona (she’d want me to tell you that) but her real skill was in making the most of every opportunity that opened up along the way. She loved food, travel, beating other people at cerebral games and puzzles and collecting art. It may have looked effortless to outsiders but it took the kind of courage and determination few of us truly possess.

It is significant that the overriding memory shared by most of Sinead's school friends and classmates is how funny she was. Although it might come as a surprise to some of the teachers on whom she unleashed such mischief, she was also a proud and passionate ONL who was beyond grateful for the education she received. (Although, in the interests of fairness, she is also the reason I avoided using the word "alumna" since my Latin never entirely recovered from our early days of telling Miss Birch we should have more parties because that's what the girls learning German were doing.)

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Although she often came across as snarky and sarcastic (and she was, in the most glorious and hilarious of ways), Sinead fought to live life on her own terms. She battled health challenges both physical and mental and profoundly rejected any romanticised notions about the nobility of suffering. Those challenges sucked and I wish with all my heart that she had never had to face them. I also wish that she was still here, recounting yet another dream in which I was mean to her, sporting bruises from a painfully firm massage like a badge of honour and chiding me for refusing to get on board with this season’s latest trend: brown tracksuit pants with blue stripes. Ultimately, the most important things in the world to Sinead were her nieces and nephew and her beloved dog Kip and her love for them never waned. She is more missed than she can possibly have imagined.

In Memoriam

Gillian Mendes da Costa (1982-2025), ONL 2000

In May 2025, Gillian Mendes da Costa, of the graduating class of 2000, sadly passed away 10 years after her original breast cancer diagnosis. Gill was a much-loved, central figure in so many of our memories of school days at Canons, and we miss her sorely every day, alongside her wonderful family and her very many friends. During Spring 2026, we developed the habit of buying and sending each other regular bunches of daffodils, keeping alive the memory of our lovely friend, Sue and Sam’s daughter, and our happy school days at NLCS. Looking back over the 36 treasured years of our friendship, we remember how rightly proud Gill was to be a second-generation North London girl. Her mother, Susan (née Buckwald), went before her, graduating in the class of 1971. In a sea of brown uniforms, Gill’s glossy hair and sparkling eyes stood out immediately in Mrs Bowman’s first form in September 1989. Gill was a big presence in our junior school class. She was always just the right side of the line between cheeky and naughty, and we all wanted to be around her. Anna’s own school reports during those early years show a variation on a theme, reading something like: “Anna probably has

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In Memoriam

good potential, if only she would stop her incessant chatting with Gillian Mendes da Costa and listen in class.” Every time we got into trouble for chatting was worth it for another of Gill’s witty comments. The rules just didn’t seem to apply to us. Over the decades since, we have regularly enjoyed recounting to one another the stories of the nonsense we got up to, reliving the fun times: for example, getting caught by our most terrifying junior school teacher while sliding down the bannisters of an outdoor fire escape that was strictly out of bounds. Even in the midst of receiving a terrible telling off, Gill had the guts to lobby the teacher not to tell our parents. She was never one to take anything lying down or not speak her mind. Jacqui recalls another favourite memory of Gill from junior school, when they were allocated card making as their selected club, with which neither of them was impressed. Instead, they would spend the lesson hiding in the toilets playing their favourite card game, “spit”, under the cubicle doors, gathering up the cards in a panic if they thought they could hear someone approaching. As we grew up and graduated to the senior school, our social life in and out of school orbited around Gill, who lived life on her own terms even then. Through our teenage years, her beauty, her sense of humour and her love of Arsenal meant she became the fantasy of many boys our age. She developed friendships and connections across many different groups through her broad range of interests and activities: music, especially the saxophone; choir; school drama productions; swimming; and tennis. Gill’s experience at NLCS helped make her a passionate and inspired historian, with a particular love of the Victorian period. She dedicated her career to being a history teacher, and also taught classics and politics.

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Starting out at Ibstock Place, where a colleague and close friend recalled her as “the queen of the staffroom” and a popular teacher, she moved on to St Albans Boys’ School and from there to Wetherby Senior School in Marylebone. Despite her increasing health challenges, she made herself indispensable at Wetherby during her eight years there, developing a varied portfolio of school leadership responsibilities alongside her teaching. Only weeks before she passed away, Gill was busy organising Wetherby’s summer party. The large number of pupils and colleagues both current and past who attended her funeral were a testament to the love and respect they had for her, describing her as an inspiring, uplifting teacher who could light up a room and brighten everyone’s day. Outside of work, Gill had a great many interests. She was the friend who always suggested going to museums or different art exhibitions. We shared her love of literature and musical theatre, though perhaps not her passion for Arsenal as much as she would have liked. Gill had one of the sharpest minds and quickest wits. She spoke her mind and was always the best asset to any quiz team. She always had a DIY or craft project on the go, or was learning a new language. A passionate Europhile, Gill travelled far and wide across the continent, often with her intrepid parents, and was a go-to source of tips for visiting all the best cities. All her voracious reading, extensive travel and unparalleled memory meant Gill had huge general knowledge. Anna recalls that only eight days before Gill passed away, when they spent the evening watching University Challenge together in Gill’s lovely home, Gill put her to utter shame by correctly answering 10 questions without breaking a sweat. Anna only got two right - and she never told Gill, but she guessed the answers. Anna Bokobza, née Wax and Jacqui Goldman, née Levere (ONLs 1990)

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NLCS International

Education Without Borders

Amplifying the NLCS Global Legacy

ince its early days, North London Collegiate School, was never about expansion for its own sake, but about a desire to share its distinctive educational vision across generations, cultures and countries. Many former pupils from the school’s early days were intrepid and founded schools in other parts of the world. Through North London Collegiate School International, that vision is now being extended on a truly global scale. Founded in 2009, NLCS International was established to manage the international partnerships between NLCS in the UK and its growing family of overseas schools. Its purpose is both careful and ambitious: to ensure that each international North London Collegiate school delivers the same quality and character of education that has defined the London school for more than 175 years. In doing so, NLCS International acts as both guardian and guide, projecting the principles, standards and spirit of NLCS far beyond the original. Without a 450 year-old name, and without former prime ministers adoring our alumnae pages, we knew from the start that delivery of the same exceptional standards and quality of education in our international schools as we consistently delivered in the UK would be crucial to our success. Having worked for nine years as a teacher and Head of Department at Canons, I felt very comfortable espousing the ethos and character of an NLCS education when establishing our first satellite school in South Korea. Speaking with prospective families, incoming staff and our Korean partners, the

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messaging around what we were setting out to achieve in Korea was clear. Following the establishment of NLCS Jeju in South Korea in 2011, the family of schools grew to include NLCS Dubai in 2017 and NLCS Singapore in 2020. In 2025, the opening of NLCS Kobe marked a significant new chapter, bringing an NLCS education to Japan’s Kansai region. At the time of writing, over 6,000 pupils around the world proudly wear the NLCS brown and blue. With NLCS Hong Kong now on the horizon and NLCS Phuket opening in 2028, the network continues to grow. Returning to the fold after six years away, I was struck by the consistency of ethos and standards across the family of schools, despite the significant growth. Parents teachers and students at our international campuses recognise the ‘feel’ of an NLCS school – with pupils and teachers moving across the group, they are comforted by and celebrate the traditions, values and attitudes that bind us. At the heart of this international family lies a shared educational philosophy. Across every campus, the pillars of an NLCS education underpin teaching and learning, shaping academically ambitious, intellectually curious and socially responsible students. These principles are not diluted by geography: rather they are enhanced through context. Each school reflects its local culture and community, yet all are united by the same love of learning, care for the individual and opportunities for self-discovery. Tradition plays an important role in sustaining this shared identity. Founder’s Day, celebrated across the international schools, acts as an important reminder that each community is part of something greater. These moments of collective recognition do more than honour the

Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Education Without Borders

NLCS Kobe Founder’s Day

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NLCS International

NLCS Phuket School View Render

school’s rich history, they broaden and strengthen a sense of belonging, connecting students and staff to a legacy that crosses borders and generations. Equally powerful is the way in which collaboration is increasing across the network. Students benefit from opportunities to engage with peers around the world, developing cultural awareness and a true appreciation for different perspectives and lived experiences. Shared initiatives, staff and student exchange and collaborative learning experiences allow young people to see education not as something confined to a single campus, but as a global conversation. For staff, regular collaboration across schools fosters professional growth, shared reflection and a beneficial exchange of ideas, strengthening the whole community in the process. This growing web of relationships illustrates one of NLCS International’s defining strengths: the ability to deepen impact without losing coherence. The schools are united but not uniform. Innovation is encouraged, ideas flow between campuses, and best practice is continually refined. In this way, amplification becomes reciprocal, with each school contributing to the whole while drawing strength from the collective. Importantly, the benefits of this global reach extend back to the founding school. The success of the international schools

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helps strengthen the long-term sustainability of NLCS in the UK, supporting bursaries and widening access to an NLCS education. Global growth reinforces local opportunity, and international success enhances educational equity at home. For Old North Londoners, this development represents a continuation of the values they experienced as students. The ethos that shaped their education now influences classrooms across Asia and the Gulf, carried forward by new generations who share the same commitment to learning, to independence of thought and to service to others - ‘much is expected from those to whom much is given’. As the family of schools continues to grow, NLCS International remains focused on what matters most: preserving the integrity of an educational legacy while broadening access to that legacy across the world. Through thoughtful growth, strong partnerships and an unwavering commitment to quality, it ensures that an NLCS education knows no boundaries. For those who wish to learn more about NLCS International or explore potential connections, enquiries are welcomed at international@nlcs.org.uk Daniel Lewis Managing Director, NLCS International

Issue 29 / Summer 2026

Education Without Borders

NLCS Singapore Founder’s Day

NLCS Jeju Opening in September 2011

NLCS Kobe Groundbreaking Ceremony - Rokko Mountain Senior School Site, May 2026

NLCS Jeju Founder’s Day

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Philanthropy

What Philanthropy Makes Possible Philanthropy at NLCS is defined by what it enables. It widens access through bursaries, strengthens confidence through programmes such as Surge Start-Up Academy, Raising Voices, and opens doors to experiences beyond the classroom. Across the School, this support allows students to think independently, ask questions, and explore what matters to them. It creates an environment where ambition is nurtured and opportunity is not limited by circumstance. This is what a culture of philanthropy looks like. A shared belief, carried across generations, is what an NLCS education can make possible. The ONL Community have always played an important role in the Philanthropic mission of the school. Thank you to those of you who already give financially, whether it be through regular giving in the 1850 Club, Giving Day or at a transformative level.

Shaping What Lasts

“Philanthropy is not only about the present. It is about what endures.” 114 ONLINE Magazine

Issue 29 / Summer 2026

135

TENNIS COACHING SESSIONS DELIVERED

1850 CLUB DONORS WHO GIVE REGULARLY

£323,111

600

ONL VALUE OF GIVING HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED SINCE 2022/2023

BURSARY RECIPIENTS

GIRLS LEARNED HOW TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR THROUGH SURGE STARTUP ACADEMY

NEW LIGHTS ON THE ALL-WEATHER PITCH OVER

300

VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENTS ACROSS THE ONL COMMUNITY

STUDENTS BENEFITING FROM THE RAISING VOICES PROGRAMME

ROBOTEER IN RESIDENCE (FIRST IN THE UK)

233%

RAISED DURING GIVING DAY 2026

PROFESSIONAL WIRELESS MICROPHONE SYSTEM FOR THE PAC AND MAIN HALL

FMB FELLOWS LEAVING A GIFT IN THEIR WILL TO NLCS

296

MORE GIRLS IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL EMPOWERED THROUGH ROBOTICS

THANK YOU – Your support has made this possible ONLINE Magazine Issue 29 / Summer 2026 115 (2025-2026)

What We Pass On After Impact An NLCS education does not begin and end at the School gates. It stays with you, shaping how you think, how you lead and how you see the world. For many in the ONL community, supporting the School is part of that connection. It is a way of recognising what they received and choosing to pass it on.

“An NLCS education does not end when you leave. It continues to shape lives long after.” A connection that endures The relationship the ONL community have with NLCS is distinctive and enduring. It can be seen at reunions, across global networks and in the many ways you continue to engage with the School. This year has seen a renewed sense of momentum. More members of the ONL Community are choosing to give back through Giving Day, regular contributions and significant personal gifts. That generosity reflects pride, belonging and a belief in what NLCS represents.

£362,355 DONATED BY ONL COMMUNITY (JULY 2025 TO JUNE 2026)

£24,086 ONL COMMUNITY GIFTS DURING GIVING DAY 2026

“A bursary allowed both my sister and me to achieve these incredible careers that we have now, and so for that, I’m immensely grateful”. Amedra Basgaran (ONL 2014) and bursary recipient

A Lasting Legacy

Philanthropy at NLCS has always been about continuity. It reflects the belief that what happens here matters, and that each generation has a role in carrying that forward. This year, that belief has been expressed in deeply personal ways. One Old North Londoner chose to make a significant gift to the Bursary Fund after reflecting on her long relationship with the School, first as a pupil and later as a teacher. She spoke about a former student who had gone on to achieve remarkable success, and only later shared that her place at NLCS had been made possible through a bursary. It was a quiet but powerful moment, bringing into focus the lasting impact of opportunity. Another Old North Londoner chose to support the School both during her lifetime and through her estate. Having decided to include NLCS in her will, she also wanted to give while she was still able to see the difference. For her, it was not only about leaving something behind, but being part of that impact now.

“To give while you can see the difference, and to know it will continue beyond you.” These decisions are different in form, but closely connected. Both reflect a belief in the School and a commitment to ensuring that future generations benefit from the same opportunities.

Giving Back

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Supporting the School takes many forms, for some, it is regular, sustained giving over time. For others, it is a significant gift or a legacy that will shape the School for generations to come. For the ONL Community, giving back is an expression of pride, connection and belief in the School. That contribution may be financial, or it may be the sharing of time, insight and experience through mentoring, speaking or staying closely connected to the life of the School. In supporting NLCS, that connection becomes something more. It becomes part of a shared commitment to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to discover who she is, explore what matters to her, and shape the world around her. For those who choose to give, in whatever way feels right, that legacy continues.

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DONATION FORM

PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM IN THE ENCLOSED FREEPOST ENVELOPE, EMAIL A SCAN TO PHILANTHROPY@NLCS.ORG.UK OR CALL 020 4524 9502

YOUR DETAILS Title: Email: Home Address:

First Name:

Surname: Phone:

YOUR GIFT I/We wish to support:

The Bernice McCabe Bursary Fund

With a single gift of £ __________ BACS Transfer

Credit/Debit Card

The Work in Hope Fund

Name: North London Collegiate School Sort: 20 29 60 A/C No: 30930903 Reference: Your name

If donating by Credit or Debit Card, please complete the section below: Card Number: ______________________________________    Expiry Date: ____ / ____   CVV (3 digits): ___________ Name on Card: ______________________________________ Billing Address (if different from above):   _______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Postcode: ________________________ Please contact me to take my card details securely by phone.

LEGACY GIVING – FRANCES MARY BUSS FELLOWSHIP Please send me information about leaving a gift to NLCS in my Will

BECOME A REGULAR SUPPORTER Joining our 1850 Society of regular supporters helps us plan and make long-term commitments to students and programmes. To arrange this: Please visit www.nlcs.org.uk/donate-here Under Gift amount, select ‘Recurring donation’, or scan the QR code and complete the Regular Gift form.

GIFT AID Boost your donation by 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 you donate. I want to Gift Aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the last 4 years to North London Collegiate School. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

Signature:

Date:

STAYING IN TOUCH I would like to receive NLCS news, event invitations, and fundraising updates via: Email

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Thank you for supporting North London Collegiate School North London Collegiate School is a charity registered in England, 1115843.

e p o h in k or w e W Spe laboramus | Our ONL Community is incredibly important to us. We are here to keep you connected - from the latest news to events, reunions, volunteer opportunities and so much more. We would love to hear from you and what you are doing. Whether you’ve…

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