Head Girl: Audrey Elkington née King OW 1976

I was at King Edward’s Witley between 1969 and 1975, and I was in Tudor House.

It is really hard to say my favourite memories of KESW; I thoroughly enjoyed being there (despite the rules and the detentions!) because it gave me so many opportunities which I wouldn’t have had if I’d remained at school at home …Was it dissecting a dogfish?  Or reading ‘Winnie the Pooh’ in Latin?  Or, getting a poem published in the school magazine when I thought I was hopeless at poetry?  No, I think it was the friendships I made with so many different people, and the adventures we got up to together.

My favourite lessons were Biology and Chemistry without doubt.  I played almost any sport I had the opportunity to play – but especially squash and hockey (I even remember having a go with a lacrosse stick once).

I took a degree in Biochemistry, and then conducted research into the molecular genetics of the bacterium Streptomyces for my PhD.

While I was at university my Christian faith became real for me, and after my PhD I explored a calling in the Church of England. I began parish ministry in 1988, and retired in 2021. My final post was as Archdeacon of Bodmin in Cornwall, but we have now returned to the North East where I originated from.

I think the achievement I am most proud of, is creating a garden from nothing in our retirement home (the first house we have ever owned!).