My Trinity - JOEL WILLIAMS - Trinity School
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My
ISSUE 2 SUMMER 2020
Trinity
MAGAZINE FOR FORMER
PUPILS, STAFF AND FRIENDS
ROBIN WILSON
HEADMASTER 1972-94
BARRY MACEVOY
IN MALAWI
JOEL WILLIAMS WHERE IN
THE WORLD
Tenor of the
Ensanche RAISE YOUR GLASS
TO GEOFF WILSHER
My
Trinity
Welcome
Dear alumni, former As I write, our Junior Year is about to start a phased return with
our Years 10 and 12 also returning in small groups over the last
staff and friends two weeks of term. We are working through the complications this
creates as remote teaching still needs to continue for everyone not
Welcome to the second edition
in school. The phased return will enable us to test the measures
of My Trinity magazine. we have introduced before the school returns in September.
When this magazine reaches you, we will know the outcome of
Our news sections bring you a few highlights from the
our first Giving Day, which is being held in support of our Bursary
school and our alumni community as well as reviews of
Fund. Bursaries make a crucial difference to our school. To the
the events we have been able to host prior to lockdown.
individuals who receive them, we hope we can give them a life
I hope you enjoy reading about 2010 leaver and up and changing opportunity. But the impact is even greater on all of
coming opera singer Joel Williams, alumnus and governor our students because it means that they will grow up and rub
Barry MacEvoy’s trip to Malawi, and the articles on former shoulders with children from all kinds of backgrounds and we
Headmaster Robin Wilson and alumnus and stalwart of the think this can shape powerfully the kind of young person they will
Trinity Club, Geoff Wilsher. be when they leave us at eighteen. Trinity has always valued this,
but the cost of a private education means we have to do more to
As I write, we are gradually easing out of lockdown whilst
address the structural inequality of access to schools like ours.
still in the grip of the worldwide pandemic. I sincerely hope
you have kept safe and well during this time. My condolences I would like to thank the hundreds of you who have already
go out to all of you and your families where you have been generously supported the Bursary Fund. Our longer-term
affected in different ways by the virus. ambition is that one in every five Trinity students will be supported
by a bursary, but the pandemic is going to impact a number of
I could not be prouder of the way in which the staff and pupils
current Trinity families economically for the foreseeable future,
at Trinity School have responded to the unique challenges
so we also want to be able to support them to keep their children
that face us. Our staff trained over the Easter holiday for a
at school.
week and have been delivering online teaching via the Teams
platform throughout the summer term. Learning virtually is I hope we will be able to resume our programme of events
an intense experience for students and staff, so we introduced for alumni over the next academic year and I look forward
a slightly reduced timetable for teaching remotely, with a to seeing many of you then.
longer lesson length than at school. Staff have been sharing
With my best wishes
innovative ways to teach and learn with each other, and
parents have been generous in their praise for the engaging
lessons that staff are creating. We have had to learn quickly,
and the broadband networks of South London have been put
Alasdair Kennedy, Headmaster
through their paces, but our governors have paid tribute to
the dedication of our teaching and support staff in delivering
a very high level of teaching remotely.
“We are really grateful that under challenging
As our GCSE cohort had no exams to sit, we introduced circumstances, the school and teachers have managed
a new programme for them to start to engage with their to keep our child motivated and positive about their
A level subjects. I have been incredibly impressed by the education, and provided a way for them to maintain
a routine that is so important for their well-being.”
set of ideas and resources our staff have produced for the
pre-A level programme, which is also being shared with TRI N ITY PARENT
the 43 external students joining our Sixth Form in September.
02 www.mytrinity.org.uk alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk
Alumni news contents
MY T R I N I T Y CO M M U N I T Y O N L I N E 3 y Trinity engagement
M
platform
Introducing our new
4 School News
Business Directory
We have recently launched our new 6 J oel Williams – Tenor
Business Directory on My Trinity, where of the Ensanche
you can add a free listing to promote
your company to our excusive Trinity 8 Review of Events
community. People have already started
posting their businesses, including those 12 School News
Have you registered on offering financial advice, IT support and
our alumni networking handmade bespoke cakes. 13 Alumni News
site My Trinity yet? Why not add your company now?
16 Barry MacEvoy in Malawi
Join over 1,400 people from our Trinity
community and keep in touch with the 18 Where in the World?
latest news from the School and former
students, see our forthcoming events, view 20 Trinity Gives
photographs and connect with your peers
and fellow alumni. Alumni can also seek and 21 Lisa Kladitis
give careers advice and search for, or offer,
mentoring opportunities, jobs and other
22 The Return of the Alumni
forms of support through our secure site.
New Resources section
24 R
obin Wilson,
How to register on My Trinity Headmaster 1972-1994
We have also enhanced the site with a new
It is simple to join us on My Trinity, just sign
Resources area, which we have started to
up using your LinkedIn or Facebook log in, 26 D
estination of 2019
populate with Media; including alumni
or register with your email address. You can Leavers
performing in lockdown and an interview by
tailor your profile by offering as much or as
alumnus Alistair Kitchen, who left Trinity in
little support to others as you want. 28 Trip down Memory Lane
2001, with composer and film maker, Tony
Register now at Britten, who left in 1973,
www.mytrinity.org.uk Publications; where 29 The Trinity Club
you can find the latest
editions of the School 32 Raise your glass
My Trinity Magazine is published by
and Alumni magazines, to Geoff Wilsher
the Alumni and Development Team
and an Obituaries
at Trinity School
section. 34 In Memoriam
Edited by Melodie Johnson,
These two new sections
Head of Alumni Relations
can be accessed from 35 A
lumni & Development
Comments and suggestions for the menu. Team
content, or requests for copies of
photographs can be sent to Melodie by Join us on our social media 36 Dates for your Diary
email: maj@trinity.croydon.sch.uk or
facebook.com/TrinitySchoolCroydonAlumni
by post, addressed to Melodie Johnson,
linkedin.com/in/trinityalumni
Alumni Office, Trinity School, Shirley
Park Croydon CR9 7AT twitter.com/TrinitySchAlumn
instagram.com/trinityschoolalumni
direct line 020 8662 5159 www.trinity-school.org/alumni 03
School news
CRICKET FOOTBALL
Trinity win against MCC Tayla Lock Lanre
Trinity’s 1st XI claimed victory at our Sixth Form student Olatunji
annual fixture against the prestigious Tayla Lock completed First Year student
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) last trials last summer at Lanre Olatunji
summer. Our team bowled the best the ISFA (Independent signed for Charlton Athletic
they had all season, restricting the MCC Schools Football FC academy in February.
to 109 all out. The match culminated Association) camp
in ‘Spirit of Cricket’ award winner Alex for the U18s team.
Connaghton, who hit two enormous Tayla also plays for Ollie Scarles
sixes to win the game; our first win Crystal Palace ladies. Third Year student Ollie
against the MCC for some time. Scarles was selected
for the England U15
football team in
Henry January following his
Molyneaux success as part of the
Fourth Year student FA Development Squad.
Henry Molyneux He demonstrated his
signed a two-year excellent football skills
contract with Crystal during a match against
Palace FC Academy. Belgium in February.
HOCKEY RUGBY
William Haspel Three students selected
Top 100 First Year student for Harlequins U13
Trinity has been named one of the top William Haspel was programme
100 cricket schools in the country by named Player of the
Second formers Joseph Jenkins, Conor
The Cricketer magazine for the fifth Season for the U13
Maguire and Cuthbert Bashukwa were
year running. The listing follows an Surrey Boys Panthers
selected for the Harlequins U13 Developing
exhaustive process where all entries Team last year. William
Player Programme in February. All three boys
are judged against an extensive set was also invited to
already make a great contribution to our
of criteria, with all the chosen schools attend a trial for the
teams at Trinity and will certainly benefit
having outstanding facilities, fixture England hockey Southern Counties
from this level of training and coaching.
programmes and coaching. Performance Centre selections.
Archie Warren
Joe Cotton Sixth Form student, Archie Warren,
Fifth former, Joe represented Surrey as part of their U20
Cotton was named rugby squad in March. It’s a great accolade
“Player of the for Archie, who was selected to play for the
Tournament” at U20 team despite
England Hockey’s the fact he is only
Futures Cup. Along 18. He played the
with securing this full 80 minutes
coveted title, Joe was against Sussex RFU
also selected for the England U15 squad. on the 1st XV pitch
at Esher.
04 www.mytrinity.org.uk alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk
RUGBY CONTINUED WAT E R S P O R T S
Fifteen Five Gold Medals!
Rugby Third Year student, Zain Lam, returned MUSIC
Team to school with a suite of medals after
of the Year competing in the Surrey Swimming
Trinity Boys Choir
Championships in March. He won five
Two Trinity
gold medals across the 50m, 100m and
back at Abbey Road
students were
voted into the 200m breast; 50m free, and 50m fly, The Trinity Boys Choir, currently the busiest
starting XV and he won silver in the 100m fly. studio session recording children’s choir in the
for ‘Fifteen UK, make regular visits to famous studios like
Rugby Schools Abbey Road. Some projects they can excitedly
Rugby Counties tell us about, and some they can’t yet reveal.
XV’ in April. Alex The Choir recorded the score by Nicholas
Connaghton was Britell for the Netflix film The King, starring
voted into the Timothée Chalamet, and spent a further two
second row while days at Abbey Road recording the soundtrack
Chris Lipczynski for Maleficent 2.
was selected at The Choir also recorded the song Monsters
inside centre. with James Blunt for his new album Cold,
which was recorded in the Guards Chapel
at Wellington Barracks. It is a very touching
Ross Sinclair ballad, written in homage to Blunt’s father.
Fifth Year student,
Ross Sinclair, was Gold and Silver for
selected for the Water Polo Teams Student
Scotland U16 awarded
Exiles Green Squad
Our U15 and U18 Water Polo teams
Royal College
claimed gold and silver medals
at Murrayfield
respectively at the ESSA National
of Music
stadium in March.
Finals. The U15 team won the national scholarship
The camp involved
title following a closely-fought match Sixth Form student,
work on individual
at Northampton School for Boys Amiri Harewood,
development,
against Bolton, with the U18s claiming has been awarded a
team organisation
silver in their final match, also against scholarship to the Royal College of Music.
and game opportunities against
Bolton, after a semi-final victory Amiri is one of our most talented pianists and,
Scotland U16 Blue and Scotland
against Alleyn’s. at the age of 13, became our youngest Steinway
U16 Red teams, giving participants
Scholar. He has since won a number of awards,
the chance to impress the national
including our annual piano competition on
selectors and earn a Scotland U16 cap. Anna ESSA Champion three occasions and, in 2018, was named
Sixth Form our Trinity Musician of the Year. Amiri has
Alfie student Anna performed at prestigious venues across Europe
Velasco Bradescu was including Venice, Bologna and the Steinway
crowned ESSA Hall in London. He recently gave a brilliant
Upper Sixth
national diving performance of Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A
student, Alfie
champion in minor at the newly-refurbished Fairfield Halls.
Velasco was
selected for December in
the U18 Welsh the Senior Girls Students mark
Exiles squad last diving category. Holocaust Memorial Day
September. Her win also Our Lo Quartet performed at a service
contributed on Holocaust Memorial Day in January
to the London at the Council Chamber at Croydon
team winning Town Hall, which was attended by the
overall. Mayor of Croydon, local faith leaders,
Councillors and other local schools.
alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk www.mytrinity.org.uk 05
JOEL WILLIAMS
Tenor of the Ensanche
We speak to rising star, Joel Williams
Joel Williams left Trinity School in 2010 having attained A levels in English, History and in the world famous choir in their
Religious Studies, but his passion has always been his music. Whilst at Trinity, Joel was international broadcasts, and singing solos
a chorister in the Trinity Boys Choir, played the cello, clarinet and piano, and was awarded in the National Centre for Performing Arts
Trinity School’s Music Prize for Singing. Joel was also leader of the concert band and in Beijing, the Royal Albert Hall and the
through all this, he managed to fulfil his duties as Deputy Head Boy. Sydney Opera House, reaching combined
audiences of many millions. He then
Joel said: "I feel incredibly lucky to have the frozen streets of Venice and the gained a post graduate place at the Royal
spent seven years at Trinity. It is with smoothie selection in the Royal Opera College of Music Opera Studio, where he
the music department that many of House canteen. Alongside races run and studied for five years. He was awarded
my happiest memories were formed. smoothies drunk, I was exposed to art of a Kiri te Kanawa Scholarship, following
The opportunities under the helmsmanship indescribable beauty, passion, and love, a rigorous audition process, attended by
of David Swinson were astonishing. Within and was piloted through this world by Dame Kiri herself. Whilst still a student
the relatively short life-span of a boy treble, teachers for whose patience, knowledge at the RCM, Joel built up his solo career as
I ended up on many of Europe's greatest and humanity I will be forever grateful." a tenor, performing in Adriana Lecouvreur
stages and sang with many of the world's Joel went on to read History at King’s under Valery Gergiev in Verbier and with
greatest conductors. Of course, at the time College, Cambridge, where he was an the LPO and Vladamir Jurowski.
I was mostly excited about races through academic and choral scholar, singing Described by Opera Magazine as a singer
"with flair, his tenor simultaneously
caressing and resilient", Joel is now a
member of the Centre de Perfeccionament
Palau de les Arts in Valencia. Joel is
the recipient of an Independent Opera
We are hugely proud of Fellowship which is awarded annually to
his achievements and it talented singers in the early stages of their
is an inspiration for our professional operatic careers. His studies
up to this point have been generously
young singers to see one
supported by many charitable bodies
of our own doing so well. which he lists fully at tenorjoelwilliams.com.
David Swinson, Director of Music at Trinity On stage, Joel, aged 28, has already
played a multitude of roles and made
debuts for major companies including
Basilio in Nozze di Figaro at the Palau
de les Arts Reina Sofia, Facio in Fantasio
at Garsington, Le Ruisseau in Les Fêtes
D'Hébé at Bastille, Opéra de Paris, Don
Ottavio in Don Giovanni at Holland Park,
Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream,
Count Belfiore in La Finta Giardiniera, Hexe
in Hänsel und Gretel at the Royal College
of Music International Opera Studio,
Odoardo in Ariodante at the London
Handel Festival, Oronte in Alcina at the
© Ben Ealovega
Ryedale Festival Opera, and he also created
the role of Captain Vere for the Royal
06 www.mytrinity.org.uk alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk
Music is such a powerful
force to unite and inspire
us. Now, we need it more
than ever.
Xxxxxxx
He was an excellent and charismatic
Cobweb and it doesn’t surprise me at all
that he is doing so well as an operatic tenor.
We’ve kept in touch, partly because he has
sung alongside current Trinity boys, both at
the Royal College of Music and at Garsington
Opera, and also on a tour to Italy. We are
hugely proud of his achievements and it is
Joel as Basilio in Nozze d Figaro - © Chris Christodoulou Joel as Odoardo in Ariodante - © Chris Christodoulou
an inspiration for our young singers to see
Opera House's Learning and Participation 8pm. "I had seen other people entertaining one of our own doing so well.”
reduced version of Billy Budd. their local community in Italy, so I thought, For Joel’s neighbours, his performances
Joel arrived in Valencia with only a why not? I go out onto my balcony to pay were awaited with enthusiasm. One of his
smattering of Spanish, and was thrown tribute to our wonderful health workers neighbours wrote to him saying, "I wanted
into rehearsals on his induction day with others in our street, and when the to thank you from me and on behalf
for a production of Nozze di Figaro for applause stops, I sing. I've performed of my 8-month pregnant wife for your
a main house production. Rehearsals almost every night for two months". encouraging music every day. In these
were almost entirely in Spanish. Joel’s neighbours came to know what was difficult days, going out on the balcony to
"I was so fortunate and grateful that I had coming and waited in anticipation on their clap and to listen to your awesome voice is
already performed the role of Basilio under balconies to listen to him. With his ipad like having an oxygen balloon that makes
the direction of Sir Thomas Allen, and and small speaker to accompany him, Joel us forget all the bad things for a while".
thanks to the international language of became the Tenor of the Ensanche. Singing Joel says he is "So happy to do my small
gesticulating I ended up standing roughly in his unmistakable and powerful voice, bit for the community around here and
in the right part of the stage at roughly Joel delighted his audience with favourites the people who see recordings. These are
the right time", Joel said. Mauricio Villa such as Brindisi, Nessun Dorma, and difficult times when we need the human
from Operawire was impressed "I have La Donna È Mobile. When David Swinson, connection and community denied to us
to mention Joel Williams as Basilio... this our Director of Music, came across one of by quarantine. Music is such a powerful
young tenor created a humorous creation Joel's videos, we posted it on our social force to unite and inspire us. Now, we
and, above all, his voice was projected media, and Joel went ‘viral’. Many people need it more than ever."
wonderfully." shared the videos via their social media
Joel was singing in Rossini's Viaggio a and mobile phones during Covid-19 as
Reims at the Palau in Valencia when the a way of connecting with others and
Covid-19 outbreak took hold (rehearsals Joel’s videos became firm favourites.
We are sure to see more of Joel as
this time were almost entirely in Italian), He has been interviewed (in Spanish)
a young and upcoming opera singer,
so when the country went into lock- and performed on Spanish television
so watch this space - for updates,
down, Joel had to resort to singing at channel A3TV and has been played
follow him @TenorJoel on Facebook and
home and taking online classes with his on ITN in Britain, reaching millions of
Instagram and tenorjoelwilliams.com.
teacher, which "works surprisingly well, viewers with his balcony performances.
If you have not already heard Joel sing,
and I am enjoying this time to focus David Swinson said of Joel: “It’s 10 log in to our My Trinity alumni
on my technique, but I feel bad for my years since Joel left Trinity but, of course, engagement platform at
neighbours when I practice vocal I remember him well. His highlights as a www.mytrinity.org.uk where you
exercises without any tunes!" treble included a solo with Paul McCreesh can see one of his performances
It was actually one of his neighbours who at the Gabrieli Consort in Madrid and taking from his balcony.
suggested Joel perform for the street after the role of Cobweb in A Midsummer Night’s Click here
the nightly applause for health workers at Dream at La Monnaie, Brussels.
alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk www.mytrinity.org.uk 07
Review of events
Afternoon of Sport
beginning of this
Members of the Trinity community came together at the
our alumni challenged
academic year for our annual Afternoon of Sport where
hockey, netball,
our current students and staff in hotly-contested rugby,
football and water polo matches.
a fun-filled day for
Over 300 alumni, parents, students and staff joined us for
courts were open for people
all the family. Our tennis, squash and badminton
er children, and all
wanting to play; we had a bouncy castle on offer for young
our guests enjoyed a delicious BBQ.
We were delighted to host Trinity
RFC’s 1st XV as they took on the
mighty Purley John Fisher’s 1st
XV in their first warm-up game of
the season. We witnessed a great
performance by Trinity RFC in an
exciting match which culminated
in a win for Trinity RFC.
08 www.mytrinity.org.uk alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk
Reception for
our Supporters
We were delighted to welcome alumni,
parents and friends of the School to our
Reception for Supporters of the Trinity
Bursary Fund in November. The room
was buzzing with energetic and lively
conversation as we thanked members of
the Trinity community for their generous
donations to our Bursary Fund.
2015 leaver and bursary recipient, Lisa
Kladitis, gave a moving speech about her
journey from her local state school to
Trinity, and then on to Oxford, where
she graduated with a First in History.
You can read more about Lisa on page 21.
Celebrity Organ Recital
We hosted a special event in September to celebrate the installation
of our Wyvern Organ in Trinity Concert Hall. The best seats were
occupied by our supporters, who so generously donated to our
Organ Fund; enabling us to bring organ music back to School.
Internationally renowned organist, David Briggs gave an electrifying
performance on the night, demonstrating what this magnificent
instrument is capable of.
David’s playing was incredible; with enthralling and masterful
performances of Bach, Gustav Mahler, and Widor, followed by
a memorable performance of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, which
had the whole audience humming and toe tapping.
Edinburgh Reunion The second half of the evening included a captivating improvisation
In November, David Young, our Director by David to the Charlie Chaplain film The Immigrant. The organ was
of Development, hosted drinks for alumni dedicated by the Reverend Canon Dr Andrew Bishop, Chaplain to the
based in and around Edinburgh. Whitgift Foundation, and guests were treated to a thrilling finale of
Hubert Parry’s I Was Glad, accompanied by a massed choir of alumni,
“Thanks for a great evening David.
parents, students and staff. Fabulous!
It was lovely to meet you all!”
Spencer Collingwood, Alumnus, left 1986
Can you help with a venue for networking?
We would love to hear from you if you are prepared to
host one of our networking events, whether it be a drinks
reception, working lunch or breakfast at your place of work
or a venue you are associated with. Please get in touch with
Melodie by email maj@trinity.croydon.sch.uk if you are
able to help.
alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk www.mytrinity.org.uk 09
Review of events
Battle of
the Blues
We arranged for a group of our most ardent rugby
fans to join us at Twickenham Stadium for the
Varsity Match, with George Chuter (Mid Whitgiftians,
Saracens, Leicester, England and, most importantly,
Christmas Jazz evening
Trinity, 1994), as our guest of honour. Our jazz enthusiasts were blown away by
the quality of our students’ performances
The Alumni Team provided hospitality in the Rose at our annual Christmas Jazz evening in
Room before and after the match as part of the December, which had to be rescheduled
Varsity Gathering – a space reserved for at very short notice due to a clash with
university college supporters and teams. the general election.
Thanks to a combination of links to senior
members of the OURFC and sheer effrontery, There were so many fantastic
Trinity School has a standing invitation as performances, including from The Jazz
the only non-Oxbridge group in attendance. Collective, comprising Sixth Form students
Will Hardy, Ben Peck and Luca Wade,
The Trinity party had lots of time to accompanied by singer Alex Persinaru.
reminisce about past and present rugby
glories – not least when an Old Whitgiftian During the evening, Ben Peck played
who was there as part of his university a gold-plated Selmer Radio Improved alto
college party was attracted to our banner saxophone from 1935. The saxophone,
and, having confessed that he was part donated to the School by alumnus Bob
of the 1977 Whitgift XV, which was the Beere, who left in 1958, is one of only 2,000
first ever to lose to Trinity, was promptly made. Bob and his wife Tricia drove up from
introduced to Laurie King and Nick Woodman Devon to hear Ben put it through its paces
who were part of that victorious Trinity team! and they were thrilled to hear it being
played so professionally.
Oh, and the matches? Cambridge won both men's
and women's games. Oxford will be seeking revenge
this December. We hope the match will go ahead and
that we will be able to attend with alumni again.
CANCELL ATION OF EVENTS
We were looking forward to the Founder’s Day Supper, Class of 2015 Reunion,
City Careers networking event at KWM, hosted by Trinity alumnus Darren Roiser,
our Evensong at Bath Abbey, our Trinity Golf Day, Milestone Reunions and, lastly,
our Afternoon of Sport at the start of the autumn term, but due to social distancing
measures, we had to cancel the rest of our alumni events for this academic year.
We have delayed our programme of events until late autumn, but are currently
working on ideas for virtual events we hope you will enjoy.
10 www.mytrinity.org.uk alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.ukChristmas Drinks
Over 100 U25s enjoyed Christmas drinks at our Sports Pavilion after
term finished in December. Thankfully, the music provided by Nathan,
the youngest member of our team, outplayed the racket made by the
fire alarm we managed to set off in the kitchen at the start of the event.
It was an evening full of fun and laughter, with lots of hugs and ‘hi-fives’
in abundance as our young alumni gathered to eat, drink, socialise and
upload photos and videos of the event to their social media.
Ladies who lunch
Muriel Stocker, the widow of Brian,
who left Trinity in 1952, and her sister
Pamela joined Melodie and Donna for
lunch at Chapter 1 in February. It was
a wonderful opportunity to meet up,
share memories and talk about our
outreach to alumni and their families.
New York Reunion London Drinks
It was great to meet up with alumni
David Young flew over to New York in February
and parents for an evening of lively
to meet with alumni and organized a reunion
conversation at The Yorkshire Grey
for ex-pats over there at The Shakespeare Pub,
in London in February. The reception
which was really well received.
enabled those attending a chance to
“The first Trinity School alumni reunion enjoy mini reunions, network with
get together in NYC. Great to catch up with others, and, for our younger alumni,
everyone. Well organised by David Young.” to seek careers advice.
Richard Sexton MBE, Alumnus, left 1988
alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk www.mytrinity.org.uk 11Trinity in Top 50
School news The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools
Guide 2020 has ranked Trinity School in
the Top 50 independent secondary schools
in the UK for the fourth year running.
DRAMA Extra-Curricular Activities during lockdown
It was inevitable that the students would
miss the vast number of extra-curricular
activities available to them at school,
but staff and students have risen to the
challenge by enriching their lives and
others in many different ways.
There are so many initiatives to mention,
but they include the launch of our Blue Cube
Gallery by the Art Department where staff
Click here
and students can share the art they produce
Jasper Bew, son of a key worker, plays his part in
during lockdown, our Head of Drama is Trinity guitar group, The Axemen from the school library.
working on a production ‘Shakespeare in
Pieces’, which will comprise a compilation of schools have been driving care home staff
individually recorded parts from the bard’s to and from their shifts to save them having
Rave reviews plays, and groups of musicians have created
memorable performances on video together.
to use public transport, DT departments
have been providing PPE for care worker
for Joseph Spanish cooking has seen 40 students (and staff, and students have been supporting the
their families) each week joining our Head of residents with cards and letters. I don’t think
The School’s production of Joseph and
Spanish in his kitchen over Friday lunchtime. the three schools have worked together
the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
so closely before.
was met with rave reviews following Foundation schools and care homes have
a sell-out in December. really come together. Volunteers from the Alasdair Kennedy, Headmaster
With a cast, orchestra and stage
crew of 80 students, this firm musical
favourite was a spectacular show.
Featuring an original technicolour coat,
Staff provide PPE to NHS
designed and made by staff member Our DT staff have been producing protective visors
and alumnus Will Coma; a complex set; using our 3D printers and laser cutters to supply to
live music, directed by Head of Music, local care homes and GP surgeries, as well as local
Richard Holdsworth, and innovative hospitals with much-needed PPE. Other members
stage direction, led by Head of Drama of the staff community are contributing to the
Productions Chris Chambers, it was nationwide ‘Sew for the NHS’ initiative, working
thoroughly enjoyed by all. with local groups and sewing shops to create scrubs,
hats and face masks for medical staff, with patterns
Paul Johnson, editor of "Sardines",
and instructions being shared via our Intranet.
a leading theatre magazine, gave
the production five stars, saying “… Photo: Senior Partner of Forge Close Surgery in
for sheer bravery, team spirit, ambition, Hayes, Dr Sarah Young, will be sharing the kits
enjoyment, audience reception, we supplied with the local midwifery team who
commitment, attitude and downright have been running critically short of PPE.
entertainment, I cannot fault Trinity
Drama Productions’ latest show
in Croydon”.
Fifth formers get a taste of A levels
Paul praised individual student
Designed to keep young brains engaged, and in the absence of formal examinations,
performances, stating that “it’s
our Fifth Form students have benefited from exciting and enriching opportunities
a statistical certainty that one or
to enjoy intellectually stimulating work to give them a taste of what it is like to
two will end up in the West End”.
study A levels at Trinity.
12 www.mytrinity.org.uk alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.ukAlumni news Organ Scholarship
for Luke
2017 leaver, Luke Saint, who graduated
Imani’s GB this summer from Royal Holloway,
Team raise University of London, has been awarded
funds for NHS an Organ Scholarship at Guildford
Cathedral where he will be working
Alumna Imani-Lara
alongside Cathedral Organist Katherine
Lansiquot, who left in
Dienes-Williams and Sub Organist
2016, participated in the
Richard Moore.
#DontRushChallenge
fundraiser for the NHS It is a fantastic opportunity for Luke who
with her fellow members is really looking forward to joining them
of GB’s 4x100m women’s in September.
relay team. The girls
recorded a fun video
of the team in lockdown.
LOCKDOWN FUN
London Quartet’s parody
Trinity alumnus, Mark
Fleming, performed
Simon White, FRSB a parody of Fat Larry’s
1977 leaver, Simon White, has Zoom with his fellow
been elected to Fellow of the Royal members of Cantabile
Society of Biologists. Simon is Chair – The London Quartet Engineering
of EFPIA (European Federation of during lockdown using Scholarship
Pharmaceutical Industries and
Associations) Supply Chain Working
the video conferencing
app of the same name. for Niamh
Group and a Director at Pfizer. Any Mark and the rest of 2019 leaver, Niamh Singleton,
thoughts about ‘winding down’ the group got together has secured a Quest undergraduate
have been put on hold as it is ‘all to give a wonderful scholarship with the Institute of
hands on deck’ to supply hospitals recital with a great play Civil Engineering (ICE), sponsored by
worldwide during the current crisis. on the original lyrics. construction group Taylor Woodrow,
Simon said: “I thought the School part of Vinci Construction UK.
would like to know as it all started
Niamh will study at a leading UK
with A-level Biology.”
Harry Petty university, while gaining valuable work
Simon’s FRSB certificate is dated
the 1st April, but he assures us
appears on ITV experience. With the added benefit
of financial support, mentoring and
it is genuine! 2015 leaver and English Teacher at Trinity,
networking opportunities, VINCI say
Harry Petty, performed his self-penned
that the sponsorship route is taken
lockdown poem ‘Another Day’, which
by “many of our rising stars”.
was broadcast on ITV news.
alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk www.mytrinity.org.uk 13PhD beckons for Tom Wood
Thomas Wood is starting a PhD in Genetics and Development at Columbia University this
autumn. Tom, who left Trinity in 2016, has just completed studying Genetics at Rutgers
University in New Jersey, USA and is looking forward to starting his PhD in New York City.
Columbia University is an Ivy League research university, founded in 1754 by royal charter
of King George II. Based in Manhattan, the University is the oldest institution of higher
education in New York and the fifth-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.
We asked Tom to tell us about his course at Rutgers and the focus of his PhD:
“A highlight of my course at Rutgers was the level of interaction you get to have with
your professors. The class sizes in the upper level classes are small and allow for seminar
style lectures where you can build relationships with the faculty. This interaction is
fantastic, as all Genetics majors are also required to join a research lab and conduct
their own independent research project to complete the degree.
I joined the Nakamura Lab two and a half years ago and this experience has allowed Trinity alumnus
me to develop professionally in ways that would not be possible with a lecture-based
course. We conduct research into the genetic mechanisms underlying the fish to
selected to attend
tetrapod transition, with my focus being on bone formation and neck development. One Young World
In the lab, I have managed to publish a first-author paper on the subject, as well as Summit
use an integrative approach of functional gene knockout via CRISPR-cas9, CT scanning
and live cell fate tracking to show the role certain genes play in the evolution of the 2012 leaver, Francis Beechinor-Collins,
neck and differentiating bone fates. Such genetic understanding can have important was selected to attend the One
implications for developing therapies for numerous bone diseases further down the road. Young World Summit 2019 by his law
PhD programs in the life sciences in America tend to allow students to rotate between firm, Clifford Chance, whilst he was
labs in their first year to find the lab that is the perfect fit of research interests and training to be a solicitor. Francis is
personality. However, I know that there are lots of fantastic labs at Columbia investigating now an Associate at this prestigious
areas such as hematopoietic stem cells, heart development and how bone can function law firm, working in the Project
as an endocrine organ. Any of these areas (and many more) would be amazing to Finance team at their Frankfurt office.
work in so I can't wait to get started and see what I like!” The Summit acts as a forum for young
oy, B
r Head
d forme in Febru
ary people from over 190 countries,
003 leaver an Drin ks
with 2 w York
Tom’s education at Trinity laid the path to his Tom the Ne allowing them to come together
rten at
Ben Sho
further education: “My time at Trinity was shaped to accelerate the resolution of the
by some fantastic members of staff such as world’s biggest threats, such as
Mrs Anderson and Mr Johnson who went above climate change and extreme poverty.
and beyond to inspire me in their subject. I am also Francis said: “This was an excellent
particularly grateful for the career support that was
opportunity to represent my law
provided, as I would not have been able to navigate
firm, as well as network with young
both UCAS and American University applications
people working for large companies,
without the help of Mrs Highmore. In short,
NGOs and charities. I came away
I would not have been able to be successful
in America without Trinity helping me get there.” inspired to take action against the
global threats we face. Being in
a Q&A session with someone like
Muhammad Yunus, who forged
My time at Trinity was the idea of microfinance, suddenly
made solving big problems far more
shaped by some fantastic
tangible and realistic. I left feeling
members of staff such that helping to stop climate change
as Mrs Anderson and or alleviate poverty is something
Mr Johnson who went I could actually do, rather than
above and beyond to just aspire to do.”
inspire me in their subject.
Tom o
utside
Rutge
rs
14 www.mytrinity.org.uk alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.ukAlumni choosing
Apprenticeships over university
Many school leavers are looking at apprenticeships as an alternative to
university and the number of degree apprenticeships on offer is on the rise,
as are the industries where they are offered. However, the sheer number of
candidates applying means applicants need to work very hard to get noticed. Alumna awarded
Here are three Trinity students who have been successful in their endeavours: Gold D of E Award
2018 leaver and forme
r Head Girl, Deesha
Ganguli, was presented
with her Gold Duke
of Edinburgh Award at
Buckingham Palace
last summer. Deesha sai
d “I thoroughly
enjoyed completing my
Gold award and
learnt so much whilst
doing it!”
Oscar with proud parents Nina and Simon
(Simon is also an alumnus, leaving in 1981) George Railton
George, who left in 2018, started a degree
apprenticeship with Commerzbank the
Alex Willis Oscar Steele September after leaving school.
2018 leaver Alex Willis started a 4-year Oscar, who left Trinity in 2019, has secured George said: “I’ve always wanted to work
apprenticeship in Farriery with Nigel Brown an apprenticeship in the asset management in finance and when I saw the opportunity
in Abergavenny after completing a pre- division of global investment company at Commerzbank, I realised I could do
farrier course at Warwickshire College, where First State Investments. something I enjoy whilst studying for
he gained three distinctions and a merit. a degree without getting into debt.
The journey to securing the position at First
Alex got the bug for farriery after completing I’m proactive and wanted to take on a role
State certainly wasn’t straightforward, but
where I could make a difference and learn
a blacksmithing taster course, then going on Oscar’s perseverance and determination paid
invaluable work skills, so it was a perfect fit”.
work experience with various farriers. off in the end. Oscar said: “Going through
various interviews and assessment days George attended our Higher Education
Alex says, “I’m really enjoying myself week last summer to share his experiences
was initially very difficult and something
and have been able to work all through with our Lower Sixth students. George’s
that required a lot of practice ... The main
lockdown - horses’ feet don’t stop growing!
thing I learned is that preparation is key degree apprenticeship is partnered with the
I’d like to thank the school for its support
and will give you confidence throughout European College of Business Management
in my career choice, particularly
the process”. (ECBM) and the degree is sponsored by
Mrs Highmore and Mr Price for
their help and encouragement”. the University of South Wales.
Alumnus secures Dukinfield Darbishire
Scholarship for Kieran
prestigious scholarship The Headmaster was delighted to receive
a letter from Somerville College, Oxford,
announcing that 2018 leaver, Kieran Moore,
had been awarded a Dukinfield Darbishire
Scholarship and College Prize.
The award was granted to Kieran in
recognition of achieving a distinction
in his first-year exams. The college said:
“Somerville will always be pleased to
welcome entrants from Trinity School, and
we hope that Kieran’s success here will be
an encouragement to other applicants.”
alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk www.mytrinity.org.uk 15Barry MacEvoy Barry left Trinity in 1990 and
read Physics at Balliol College,
Oxford. After completing a
in Malawi
PhD in Particle Physics, he spent
17 years working on the Large
Hadron Collider project at CERN
and teaching at Imperial College
London. Simultaneously,
Barry built up a now sizeable
Governor and Alumnus Barry MacEvoy talks about his visit to our business acquiring, managing
partner school in Malawi. Barry wanted to get a sense of why we, and developing residential and
as a School, are involved, how the money we raise is spent, and commercial freehold property
in the South-East. Barry is a
if our students, when visiting, truly benefit from the experience. Governor on Trinity School’s
Here is an account from Barry about his trip: Committee.
“I flew to Blantyre in Malawi and was
greeted by our local outreach contacts and
a gaggle of our (rather tired) Sixth-Formers
and (similarly tired) teachers. Students and
teachers stay at “Fisherman’s Rest”, a lodge
set up to support community projects.
Our contribution is set into the context
of Hope 4 Malawi, a charity dedicated
to bringing food, water, education and
sanitation to the south of the country.
I have travelled widely in sub-Saharan Africa
over the years and I own land in a poor, rural
part of India. I had thought I had seen, and
understood, poverty. I did not. In the absence
of electricity, gas, heavy oil and petrol, the
population has deforested large swathes
of the country to create fuel for cooking,
heating, brick-burning and tobacco curing.
To come from a country where we have the Class sizes can be anywhere between 10 to build new classroom blocks that seat 30
luxury of being able to travel and then talk well over 100. A classroom scene typically children, at desks, in a clean and well-lit
about offsetting the effects of that travel consists of a large room, unbearably hot, environment. We take books with us each
by planting trees, to one where the people with one window and the children sitting year. People have been taught how to make
would have starved had they not cut the in the half-dark on soil, among puddles of their own lightweight concrete blocks and
trees down, is quite a jolt. This deforestation water. Conditions are deeply unsanitary and timber trusses. UN agencies have helped
has brought, inevitably, problems with toilets – if they exist – are shocking. Books by drilling boreholes, as river water is
soil erosion and the landscape has been are virtually non-existent and teachers use often dirty and contaminated. We provide
ravaged in places. chalk and blackboards. Even chalk is scarce vitamin-enriched maize to each child, which
In the south of the country, there are some and many of the teachers themselves have costs £12 per child per year. Without that
twenty-five primary schools but only a left education before the age of 18. food, many children will go hungry until the
handful of secondary schools. The reason is Trinity School has carried out a great evening, making school attendance almost
that, most children leave school at the age of deal of work at one particular school in pointless because they are exhausted and
12 and go into subsistence farming. Around Chipwepwete, where we’ve helped to undernourished.
20-30% of children don’t even make it to the On one particularly fierce day, when the
end of primary school. When these children temperature in the shade was around 30
finish their education, they work with their degrees, I was driven to a distant school.
We provide vitamin- This meant 30-odd minutes down a dirt-
families, in unforgiving conditions, growing
staple crops such as maize. At the end of the enriched maize to each track in a 4x4, during which I wondered
year, it is often the case that imported food child, which costs £12 if my teeth were going to fall out. There
is cheaper than what they can produce at was no town as such, but people scattered
per child per year
home. In purely economic terms, the people around the hills thereabouts sent the
are working … for nothing. children down every morning and the
16 www.mytrinity.org.uk alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.ukMaize arrives to feed the children. Staff and students gather outside the school.
Trinity School’s Malawi Project supports
local charity Hope4Malawi through
fundraising and volunteering for our
partnership school in Chipwepwete.
Founded by Trinity parents Sara and
Mark Goodman, the charity helps schools
and orphanages in Malawi provide a
better life for the children in their care.
Our school community has raised over
£100,000 since the project began and
since the start of our collaboration,
116 Trinity students and staff have
volunteered in Malawi; teaching the
children and helping with building projects.
school had been positioned roughly in the was their future. That in return, they had
centre-of-gravity of the local population. given something back to us. They made us
re-examine our own lives in the UK and we
Our outreach partner explained that the
would not forget their kindness, hospitality
program wanted to update the school
and fortitude. This seemed to go down well,
because it was shockingly dangerous.
although my thoughts at that stage had
He was not wrong. To do so would mean
not really crystallized.
levelling an adjacent plot to build on.
As I turned to look at it, what with The programme plays to everything we
construction being one of my core should like our young men and women to
businesses, I immediately thought that be; outward-looking, kind, polite, sensitive,
a 17-tonne excavator, 8-tonne dumper ambitious for themselves and others and
and 2 competent operators would make resilient. It is almost a “finishing school” for
a nice job of it in one week and a perfect the students who have been lucky enough
job in two. But there is little in the way to join the team in Malawi over the last six
of machinery and even if there were, or seven years. Digging trenches and fixing The programme plays to
transporting it to site is not easy. Much of boreholes beneath an unforgiving sun, everything we should like
the work must be done by local people by teaching in desperate conditions and seeing our young men and women
hand, when they are preoccupied with the that life is not all skiing holidays and nice
more pressing issue of earning enough to dinners is, we hope, life-changing for them.
to be; outward-looking, kind,
live. When I picked up a mattock and struck It’s not for the faint-hearted and it’s polite, sensitive, ambitious
it against the soil, it didn’t leave a mark. certainly no holiday.” for themselves and others
The ground may as well have been iron.
and resilient.
Despite the dreadful poverty, people were L-R: Nick Denman, Stephanie Justin, Hannah Carey,
Barry MacEvoy and Lucy Charlton.
warm and gentle and I didn’t at any time
feel unsafe. I was waiting for the hassle
to start, but it never did. This was in stark
contrast to a number of the other countries
I’ve travelled through over the years.
What with a lot of travel and, I suppose,
culture shock, I was by this stage dishevelled
and discombobulated. It was perhaps
therefore unfortunate that, I was thrust
with no warning in front of an audience
of several hundred children and teachers
“to say a few words”.
I was not prepared, so all I could do was
come out with what was in my head.
I said that the country was beautiful, but
we could see the people were struggling
and we wanted to help. That education
alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk www.mytrinity.org.uk 17Where in the World?
Our alumni network reaches across the globe.
Here are some snapshots of some of our alumni from around the World.
Chris O’Connor Indy Kler
Victoria, BC, Canada Amsterdam, Netherlands
1987 1988
Chris joined the Foreign Office in 2003 and enjoyed postings Former Head Boy, Indy, is Regional
in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Lebanon, Tunisia and the USA. Sales Manager (UK & Scandinavia)
He was awarded an OBE whilst UK Ambassador to Tunisia where for Silicon Refractory Anchoring
he oversaw the UK’s response to the first of the “Arab Spring” Solutions - a world leader in
revolutions that shook the region. Chris now works freelance the manufacture of refractory
from Canada, developing innovative approaches to addressing anchoring systems for multiple
insecurity and conflict in the Middle East. building industries.
Basit Sheikh
Orange County, CA, USA
1986
Basit is Vice-President of Emerging Technology at
Capital Group, an asset management firm based in
Southern California. In his role, he drives research into
new technology trends including AI and Cognitive
Computing as well as incubating the firm’s FinTech
and Blockchain domains.
Ross Angel
Richard Sexton
Padova, Italy
NYC, USA
1978
1988 Ross is a crystallographer whose
Trinity Ambassador for USA
research has taken him around the
Richard is the CEO of Office Concierge which helps
world. After a PhD at Cambridge,
companies navigate their office leasing options.
Ross worked in New York,
He is also the Founder of Captain’s Knock, which
Washington, University College
creates inspiring public and private events that
London, Bayreuth in Germany, and
champion sports and expat communities. Richard
Virginia Tech in the USA before he
was awarded an MBE in 2013 for services to British
moved to Italy. He is now in Padova
and Commonwealth charities in New York.
at the National Research Council.
18 www.mytrinity.org.uk alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.ukSimon White, FRSB Percentage of Alumni outside the UK
Tours, France
1977
Simon is Chair of EFPIA
(European Federation of
23% AU ST R A L A S I A
Pharmaceutical Industries
and Associations) Supply 40% N O RT H
AMERICA
Chain Working Group and
a Director at Pfizer. He has 20% EUROPE
recently been elected to
Fellow of the Royal Society
of Biologists.
14% ASIA
2% AFRICA
SOUTH
1% AMERICA
Jason Toms
Hong Kong
1986
Jason is a Commercial and
Maritime litigation solicitor
and Partner at Reed Smith
LLP. He is experienced
in dealing with dry and
wet shipping claims and
investigating maritime accidents.
Jason acted for the estate
Administrators in Hong Kong's
highest value contested probate
proceedings and in proceedings
resulting in Hong Kong's largest
ever divorce settlement.
Lali Wiratunga
Sydney, NSW
1993
Trinity Ambassador for Asia-Pacific
Lali, a former lawyer and
Haroon Niazi management consultant, is
Dubai, UEA now National Manager of
2000 (Class of 2002) Westpac’s Davidson Institute, in
Haroon is a Partner (Head of Middle Sydney. Lali volunteers on the board
East) for HKA, a global Construction of community organisation TAD,
Claims and Consulting firm, and is and serves on the Alumni Advisory
based in Dubai. Haroon holds dual Board of UNSW Business School.
qualifications in law and construction He advocates for financial
and previously worked as a barrister wellbeing, innovation and
in London before moving to the entrepreneurship. In 2016,
Middle East 10 years ago. Haroon Lali was recognised for helping
has been instructed on various in the community by Pro Bono
construction disputes and is Australia's Impact 25.
a testifying expert witness.
alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk www.mytrinity.org.uk 19Trinity Gives
Young alumni Why do we need to raise
raise over money for bursaries?
£120,000 We want Trinity to remain within reach
of any child who would thrive here, not
for bursaries only for the difference it will make to
We held our first telephone fundraising them, but also for the way it shapes
last summer, with 12 young alumni our school experience and values of
ambassadors contacting over 500 Trinity our whole community.
parents, alumni and other supporters Less than 20 years ago, schools like ours
of the School to talk to them about received massive funding from central
the Trinity Bursary Fund. government and local authorities to fund
scholarships and bursaries, ensuring
These incredible students raised gifts
talented students from poorer families of local state secondary schools to meet the
and pledges amounting to £120,475;
aspiring to come to Trinity did not have to needs of their brightest pupils. Sadly, levels
surpassing all our campaign targets.
pay school fees. The last of this funding was of attainment in A-level exams in Croydon
Holly Bishop and Oscar Lally (both
withdrawn in 2004. Trinity is more fortunate are 62% below the national average.
Trinity leavers from 2015) were joined
than most because the John Whitgift
by Callum de Freitas and Pearce Jennings Our ambition is to increase the
Foundation endows around £1.9 million
(2016) , Jack Grainge, Robert Good, percentage of students who currently
p.a. to be spent solely on bursaries to
Joseph Francis, Harry Jackson Priya Patel receive bursary support from 17% to 20%.
support children from low income
and Yunus Skeete (2017) and James One in Five.
families, but there is a need for more.
Hammond and Munaiza Hoq (2018)
in the call centre set up in our library. We are aware of many talented children at
Their teamwork and sense of fun was local primary schools who would thrive at
really remarkable during a fortnight Trinity if they are given the chance of a place.
of cheerful and enjoyable telephone We aim to make our entrance examinations
conversations. almost unteachable, ensuring those families
with money to coach their children do not
Support came from every quarter,
gain advantage over poorer pupils with
with parents and alumni alike signalling
greater potential. However, we still have to
their approval of our drive to increase
turn away bright children because of their
the number of bursaries we can offer
inability to pay.
at Trinity. Our thanks go to all our
donors for their generous support and The exponential growth in demand for
encouragement for the campaign. bursaries at Trinity is fuelled by the failure
Trinity Giving Day
As we go to press, we are about to open our doors ever wider, Trinity's
to embark on our first ever Giving Day, first Giving Day will also be used to
on Thursday 18th June. help those who are already part of the
In addition to supporting Headmaster Trinity community, providing temporary
Al Kennedy’s One in Five bursary funding bursary support for families who might
goal, the Covid-19 outbreak has introduced otherwise have to withdraw their
a new challenge for us with many Trinity children from school.
families affected by bereavement or Why not visit the Giving Day website
financially through illness, unemployment at www.TrinityGives.org.uk to see
and business failure. So, while raising funds how we got on!
20 www.mytrinity.org.uk alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.ukAlumnae Lisa Kladitis talks
about being awarded a bursary
2015 leaver and former Head Girl, Lisa Kladitis joined the Sixth Form in 2013.
She moved schools because she was concerned she would not realise her full
potential at A level and recognized she would be more challenged academically
at Trinity. Having attended the Sixth Form Open Evening, she was certain where
she wanted to study and applied.
We were delighted when she agreed to Lisa said: “I still vividly remember the
speak at our Reception for Supporters excitement of finding out I had been
of the Bursary Fund last November accepted at Trinity after a challenging
about her journey from local state interview and examination process.
school to Trinity and then on to read However, after this initial excitement,
History at St Catherine’s College, there was an agonising wait. Coming from
Oxford, where she graduated with a single-parent household, there was no
Encouraging me to achieve
a 1st Class Honours degree. way that my mother could afford to pay the best I possibly could in
the school fees. While I had been told I everything I attempted has
was academically good enough to attend, had a profound impact on
my mother was careful to manage my
my approach to all aspects
expectations and I knew that without
a generous bursary I would have to turn of my life...
down my place. Our happiness and
excitement when we found out that
subjects in ways I never had before.
I would receive a bursary and was able
Perhaps most startling was the other
to come to Trinity is hard to describe.
students. Previously, my desire to do well
I am unbelievably grateful to donors who academically had made me an outlier,
made this possible, as well as the staff and often an object of gentle ridicule.
and students who made my time at Trinity I was suddenly in an environment where
so life changing. I am so pleased that the a desire to achieve the best possible
opportunities I enjoyed are now being results - academically and otherwise -
given to more students like me.” was the norm for all students. Rather than
being embarrassed because I had actually
When talking about the difference
bothered to complete the homework set,
between her previous School
I was now surrounded by students who
and Trinity, Lisa said:
also had a passion for learning.”
“The change from my previous
Lisa confessed she was a “painfully”
school was disorientating; I
average sportswoman. She played netball
vividly remember comments
from young age, but she had never taken it
on one of my first essays
seriously. At Trinity, she had the opportunity
asking what subject
to develop her skills and be coached in
I was planning on reading
a way she had never been before. She
at university. Had I
improved significantly and enjoyed
considered Oxbridge?
netball all the more for it.
I was encouraged to
read beyond the A Level “Encouraging me to achieve the
syllabus. Whereas before best I possibly could in everything
I had been allowed to I attempted has had a profound impact
coast, I was suddenly on my approach to all aspects of my life,
being given extra work and is what makes Trinity such an
and I engaged with my inclusive and enriching school.”
alumni@trinity-croydon.sch.uk www.mytrinity.org.uk 21You can also read
