Page 54 - OO_2018

www conversion. Over the last six years in London I have lived with a number of Old Oundelians (Hannah Matthews, Alex Wilson and Anna Savage) and I still count a number of people from school as among my closest friends. I am currently working as an intellectual property lawyer for Travers Smith and outside of work I am still obsessed with all things theatre, continuously struggling (and failing) not to spend all my money on theatre tickets! On a more exciting note, I am also busy planning Ali Wilson's ‘hen do’ ahead of her wedding next year!
Olivia Darby: I studied English Literature and French at Manchester University. After spending a year living in Lyon as part of my degree, I was determined to spend more time living abroad! After graduating, I worked for the Ministry of Justice in Manchester and then moved to London, where I worked at The Arts Club as a membership manager for three and a half years. In September last year I made the move to Oslo – where my sister, Annabel Darby (W 04), is also living – to live with my boyfriend. I now work at a start-up which specialises in influencer marketing.
Rachel Hawkesford: After leaving Oundle, I went straight to Leeds University to study French and Management, which also included a year living abroad in Montpellier. On graduating, I headed for London and began working for River and Mercantile Asset Management (now River and Mercantile Group plc). Nearly six years later, I still work at R&M and am part of the small marketing team looking after all things marketing for the group’s underlying divisions. I still am very much into my sports and play netball twice a week, one of those times with a number of fellow OOs. I currently live in South-East London.
Lucia Johnstone: Since leaving Oundle, I have graduated from the University of Leeds and went on to work at EY in London, where I got my ACA. I’m now working at Apple in a sales finance role. I love to
travel, catch up with old Oundle friends and still enjoy running and tennis, but miss the regular sport!
Hannah Matthews: After leaving Oundle, I spent seven months travelling round South America, before reading History at Bristol University. I then studied for a Master’s degree in Human Rights at the School of Advanced Study in London. After finishing my Master’s, I moved to Colombia and worked for a local human rights NGO, as well as writing for a couple of international publications. I then spent three years working for Peace Brigades International (PBI), an NGO dedicated to providing protection for human rights defenders. After four years in Colombia I have recently moved to Mexico City, where I will be based for the next few years as communications coordinator for PBI, contributing to our work raising the profile of human rights defenders.
Charlotte Oborne: After leaving Durham University in 2012, I moved to London and currently work in property, running an office in Chelsea. I now live with long- suffering friend Plum Turner (N 08). Whilst not always a natural athlete at Oundle, I discovered a passion for long-distance running and have completed a number of half and full marathons, both in the UK and abroad. I am currently writing this from a holiday with five other OO ’08 leavers. #godgrantgrace.
Sophie Read: After leaving school, I joined the National Youth Theatre (NYT), before going to the University of Manchester. I continued with NYT throughout uni and also became Chair of the Drama Society at uni in my final year. I then started a role with ODEON Cinemas after graduating and became a general manager in a number of locations, before moving back to Manchester as part of the HR team, looking after recruitment. After nearly six years with ODEON I now have a new challenge with Integral (part of JLL), where I am leading the national recruitment team. I now live with my fiancé, Dan, (we’re getting married in
2019) in our house in Manchester with our two kittens.
Charlotte Smith: It has been a colour-filled time since leaving Oundle. From the indigo hue of rainy Cardiff, where I completed a Masters in Architecture, to the juniper green of the street lamps of Paris, working for Édouard François. Then joining an all-female furniture start-up, MJUKA, and the cobalt above the Elbe. Now I cycle over the grey cobbles to Luke Hughes, where I am part of a team who develop furniture, bridging the gap between craft and high-precision engineering. Recent travel highlights include a dip in the Baltic after an alder-scented sauna, the gridded groves of Kalamata and floating vertical in the Dead Sea while visiting fellow Old Oundelian Larissa Normanton (K 08). Most weekends I can be found playing bridge, attempting rectilinear pottery and running (Paris half-marathon was this year and next year I will tear through the streets of Berlin!).
Evelyn Strachan (née Jackson): After a year out, I studied English at Oxford. I stayed there for an extra couple of years to work for a Christian charity that works with young people, which included spending four months in The Gambia. Since then I've been living in London with my husband and I've begun teaching secondary school English, which is hard some days but which I love other days. I've also enjoyed studying for a Masters in English Education, which keeps me on my toes. This summer we'll be moving to Cambridge, where my husband will be working in a city centre church. Please look us up if you're visiting; I'd love to say hello!
Alexandra Wilson: I’ve been working at Mars Incorporate for the past six years and am now the Customer Marketing Controller of Mars Petcare Segment. I live between North London and Stamford with my fiancé, Sam, whom I met at Mars. I still enjoy the theatre and all things drama, cooking and travelling abroad at any given opportunity.
54
<<<RETURN TO CONTENTS
THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2017 –2018
FEATURE