St Bridget’s: Victoria Anderton OW 2001
15th October 2024
What are your best memories of KESW?
I was at KESW from 1996 to 2001. My father was in the RAF, and I joined the 3rd Form after five years at a prep school in Kent. I was in St Bridget’s House and was later joined by my younger brother and sister.
It was an honour to be selected as Head of House; I learnt a lot about leadership that year as well as developing a temporary coffee addiction thanks to the constant presence of Mrs Rowell’s cafetière!
My favourite memories of KESW all revolve around boarding life. In the 4th Form, Matron would let us watch Father Ted in our pyjamas with hot cocoa before bed and our House Tutor would let us watch movies in her flat when she was on duty at the weekend – I can’t tell you how many times we watched ‘Dirty Dancing’ and ‘Ghost’ because she had a thing for Patrick Swayze!
Where did life after KESW hold for you?
After KESW, I went to the University of Manchester and graduated with 1st Class Honours in Economics and Politics before joining the Royal Air Force. I spent nearly 10 years as an RAF Intelligence Officer serving in a few places you probably wouldn’t want to go on holiday to. During my service, I won an RAF scholarship to study for a Masters Degree at King’s College London in War Studies; I wrote my dissertation on the role of women in counterinsurgency operations.
I left the RAF in my early thirties for a career in international development, specialising in operations, programme management and Women, Peace and Security. I’ve been running my own coaching and consultancy business since 2017 helping people develop emotional intelligence, resilience and leadership skills. I’ve written two books about perfectionism, and I love public speaking. I’m about to apply for a second Masters degree in the Anthropology of Global Futures and Sustainability – KESW certainly reinforced a life-long love of learning.
My career has taken me all over the world. I’ve lived and worked in places as far afield as Beirut, Bangladesh and Bali. Life at boarding school helped me develop the self-confidence and independence to travel extensively.
