Tudor: Caroline Hyde OW 1992

I attended KESW from 1987 to 1992 and was in Tudor.  My brother also attended in the early 90s and was in Edward.  

I have always looked back at my KESW years with fondness.  I’d grown up reading Enid Blyton’s ‘Mallory Towers’ (among others!) and remember being delighted I was going to live my own boarding school adventure. To be honest, there were a lot of parallels! I recall midnight feasts in the dormitories during my first and second years in Copeland, standing on the blue carpet in the crypt of London’s Guildhall, and the joiner and leaver services in the charming St Bride’s Church, in particular. 

I’d like to thank my housemistress in Tudor, lovingly referred to as “Nellie”, for giving me my first taste of responsibility. Not sure what she saw in me back then – probably a case of the lesser of several evils! I particularly remember using my Head of House position to reduce bullying and other problematic behaviours, and leading our sports teams in rounders to several victories.  

My favourite lessons were history, classics and English – subjects that are still close to my heart today. I went on to study Ancient History at Exeter, achieving my BA Hons in 1995.  My own children are also keen history and classics students (twin Year 7 boys) so I’ve clearly passed a few preferences down to them too! Since leaving university I have achieved seven professional qualifications, all whilst doing a fulltime job. I have been happily married for 13 years this year. 

I started working in the asset management business in London in 1996 and am still in the industry now.  I have always held client facing roles, though these days I spend more time running the business and being a personnel manager than working directly with clients. I also lead a global work team that arranges corporate volunteering events, charity partnerships and employee social events around the world. I find this work to be immensely enjoyable and love that I am able to give back to the local community through events that feed vulnerable people, fundraise for charities and environmental development and protection and champion DEI related causes. I also do a lot of mentoring, both within my workplace and via industry bodies, which I also find very rewarding.