Polam Hall School
News from Former Pupils
LIU YinYan, Katie 2001 - 2003Hi, my name is Katie. In 2007, I graduated from Cambridge University with a Bachelor Degree and a Master Degree in Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering. This year in June, I will finish graduate school at Stanford University in the United States and will then work as a civil engineer on various challenging tunnel projects in Canada.
I am very excited about the job opportunity and am happy to tell you more once it has started. I am truly delighted at where I am now. In fact, all these exciting experiences and the bright future ahead of me would not have been realised if I had not gone to Polam Hall School in the first place.
I joined Polam Hall School for Sixth Form in 2001. Studying there was one of the most precious periods in my life. I came to know about Polam Hall through my two cousins who also studied there. They both had a great time and convinced me to come here too! For the first time in my life, I was away from home but the environment at Polam Hall made the transition very easy for me. The boarding teachers, in particular, were very loving and made our boarding house into one big warm family, a place where life-long friendships developed.
Studying had never been so enjoyable. I could choose to study what interested me as Polam Hall gave its students the freedom and responsibility to develop their career paths while assisting them to grow healthily along the way. The classes were small – usually there were not more than 10 people in each class. It was marvellous as teachers could give students’ individual attention and offer help according to different needs. For the first time, I found it very easy and fun to learn. At the end, I graduated with 6 A-levels, all with grade A and obtained a place at the prestigious Cambridge University.
Apart from academic work, I also joined the School Choir and Woodwind Band. I remember singing carols at churches over Christmas, which was a very valuable cultural experience. Our singing was even recorded on CDs and sold for fund-raising. There were other activities to participate in, such as sports and drama. One year, I was involved in the annual musical production and learnt jazz dance for the first time!
All in all, I am very glad that I went to Polam Hall. I will always be grateful for the warm learning environment, fun activities, fond memories and friendships that flourished. I hope that you too, will create your own exciting story at Polam Hall.
Hannah Kerr (Née Carr) 1992 - 1999
I started at Polam aged 11, having attended Raventhorpe Prep School. I knew a few of the girls coming up from the Polam Junior School through outside activities, and there were three others starting from Raventhorpe, but I remember being very nervous on my first day. I settled in very quickly though, and soon felt very much at home.
I enjoyed most of the lessons, but my favourites were English, Maths, History and French. Having small classes where teachers could give pupils individual help and attention really helped to keep the teaching standard very high.
My favourite extra curricular activities were always the musical ones – I never really enjoyed sport, other than the annual ski trips, although I did once win the 200m at Sports Day when the girl who should have won fell ill the day before. I was in the Junior and Senior Choirs, the Vocal Ensemble, the Junior and Senior Orchestras, and I played in a variety of chamber ensembles. I occasionally felt like I lived in the music department! My favourite memory is of the annual Advent services at Croft parish church, particularly singing the Matin Responsory by candlelight while trying not to set fire to the hair of the person in front of you, then going over to the Croft Spa Hotel for mince pies afterwards.
I also enjoyed the annual school productions. I helped with the music for Kiss Me Kate and a Midsummer Night’s Dream, but my moment in the spotlight came in Lower Sixth when I was cast as Sky in Guys and Dolls. The thing I remember most, other than being terrified at the thought of singing in front of a theatre full of people, is the costumes. In particular there was a Salvation Army uniform that I had to wear in the final scene, which was about 5 sizes too big for me, and had to be held up by a pair of very unattractive braces!
I left Polam Hall with 11 GCSEs and 5 A Levels, and went on to read law at Oxford. I am currently working for the civil service in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, spending lots of time in the Houses of Parliament, while simultaneously studying for a legal practice qualification, with the eventual aim of becoming a judge.
I loved my time at Polam Hall, and feel very privileged to have been educated there. I look back with many fond memories, particularly of the people, both fellow pupils and staff. I notice that the front page of the Polam website carries the quote ‘education makes us what we are’, and, certainly in my case, I think that is particularly true of Polam.
Joanne Pinkney 1979-1987
I started Polam Hall School at age 10 as a boarder in the Junior School. I arrived from Dubai where I was used to going to school in shorts and sandals all year round. It took sometime to adjust to the routine of school life, especially having to wear more layers of clothes! The main reason my parents chose boarding school was to provide stability for my education when as expatriates they could frequently be moved. Being a boarder develops your capacity for self-reliance very quickly, but there were always a group of friends for support. Some of those friends are still my closest friends now, 14 years later.
I enjoyed all my classes with the possible exception of games (which won't be any surprise to those that know me!), although in later years I played on the school hockey and netball teams, so Polam must have encouraged what little ability I have! I was also keen to get involved in singing and drama productions, and one of my strong memories of Polam is the large number of musical events we staged, from "Oliver!" to "Half a Sixpence". I also co-wrote and directed our House Play in Sixth Form, and vividly remember singing carols during the Christmas Candlemass service on the old school stairs. One of the greatest benefits I received from Polam was self-confidence, which came partly from the sheltered environment of a smaller school but more importantly, from the sense that no goal was beyond your reach.
I left Polam Hall with 5 A levels and 11 O levels and went to Edinburgh University to study Maths. Thanks to the quality of teaching at Polam (Mrs Lawrence et al) the grounding in Maths was good enough for me to enter the degree course in its second year. After 3 years of study, I was keen to do something practical, and I joined Shell International's graduate management training scheme as a petroleum engineer. My first assignment was in The Netherlands, where I worked on the oil rigs supervising petroleum engineering activities. This included a 7 month assignment on an all male rig, which was a lot of fun and (surprisingly), reminded me of the routine of boarding school life! Again, the self-confidence and self-reliance I had gained at Polam stood me in good stead.
In 1996, with a reference from Mrs Hamilton, I started a part-time MBA at university in Aberdeen and used that to move from engineering to corporate planning. I am now working for a multinational US oil company in Houston, Texas as the portfolio manager for their worldwide operations. This involves allocating an annual budget of over $1bln, and draws on my engineering experience and my background in numeracy, analysis and statistics. It also requires me to be approachable, prepared to challenge the status quo, culturally aware and independent. I believe Polam nurtured many of these qualities.
Polam Hall Scholar 1988 to 1993
I started Polam Hall when I was 13 and my first thoughts were how friendly and caring everybody was. My first class room was in Mounsey and I was thrilled with my new uniform, locker and books. I quickly noticed in class discussions how every comment was valued and respected.
The highlight of the school year for me was always the annual production in the Liddiard Theatre. I remember vividly the indefinable euphoria behind stage in the gym on the first night of a production, the excitement of being called to the green room, the warm sharp smell of the make-up, the magical transformation of the theatre space, the formidable partnership of Mrs Sanders and Mrs McIntyre. My favourite productions were 'The Crucible' and
'Hamlet'. Looking back now I think these were incredibly challenging productions, but we worked very hard and the results were beautiful and powerful. We performed 'The Crucible' in the round and I played Goodwife Proctor. In 'My Fair Lady' I played Colonel Pickering and had a short grey wig, moustache, and a smart three-piece morning suit that I was very pleased with !
I enjoyed the relaxation of Monday evening choir rehearsals. Memories of the Christmas candlelight service in Croft Parish church will stay with me forever; the spine-tingling beauty of 'Personent Hodie' and 'In Dulce Jubilo'. We performed Mozart's 'Requiem' in St. Cuthbert's church and I remember the thrill of hearing the tenor and bass voices follow our soprano and alto voices during 'Dies Irae'.
I enjoyed all my lessons, but chemistry and physics were my favourites.
After leaving Polam I studied Chemistry at Leeds University. I stayed at Leeds to do a PhD in atmospheric chemistry before taking up a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Harvard University. I am indebted to Polam for providing me with an excellent grounding in science and the self-confidence
and determination to succeed in a professional career."
KERRY ROLFE nee FARLEY 1980 - 1987
Actress: roles include Paula in "Close and True" with Robson Green, and Sharon in "The One and Only" starring Richard Boxborough and Patsy Kensit.
Kerry Rolfe - I started at Polam Hall in the 1st year of Senior School from the local village school and had a lot of catching up to do. My mother still remembers picking me up after my first day beaming from ear to ear - I loved it.... even the uniform! School always has its ups and downs - that's life - but I loved art, history and lacrosse. I grew to love English Literature, which lead to a love of drama.
I found academic studies difficult. I did enjoy the lessons and did well in class but exams always proved too great a challenge. I achieved 4 O levels in English Literature, Maths (a big surprise to all), Art and an AO in General Studies. I went on to get 3 A levels in English, Art and Stage Décor.
I remember getting involved in loads of other activities - lacrosse, athletics, volleyball, badminton, tennis, school plays, school magazine editorial, Duke of Edinburgh, Junior and then Senior Choir and skiing. There were never enough hours in a day.
My family had been regular theatregoers and so I was no stranger to the world of theatre and Polam Hall encouraged the more artistic sides of life. I was able to develop what I enjoyed most. I loved being involved in school plays and was able to take an external examination in Drama and gained a distinction. I was about 14 at the time and I couldn't get enough after that.
Polam Hall feels magical to me now.....I feel privileged to have been educated at Polam.
KAY BELLWOOD 1979 - 1986
I went to Polam Hall aged 11, and continued through until I completed my A levels, leaving school with 10 O level and 4 A levels. There is plenty of opportunity to do many things other than just academic. I was involved in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and gained my Silver award. I learnt Piano up to Grade 6 and Trombone to Grade 4. I was also involved in many other things such as choir, band, sports and school productions. My overwhelming memory of Polam is that it gave me the chance to try everything - from singing to sport to academic work to acting. It was in a protected atmosphere so I was able to feel like a big fish in a small pond at a time of life when gaining confidence is all-important. The small classes meant lots of individual attention - no chance of slacking, and we were all constantly pushed to do the best we could. I was introduced to the Royal Shakespeare Company via school trips to Newcastle and Stratford, giving me a lifelong love of Shakespeare - which indirectly led to my getting into radio.
I have fond memories of many things about Polam Hall: -the grounds, which were great for games, sport and sunbathing. -the smell of the bootroom; the sound of hockey boots clattering over frozen ground in winter; the long "cross country " runs along Grange Road and through South Park; the taste of sweet clover picked from the bank overlooking the long jump pit; the warmth of the sun on bare legs while waiting for a turn at long jump or high jump. -the buzz of excitement and chatter in the foyer before and after a school play or concert. -the barely contained excitement of a day in the theatre for house plays or house music competitions - or best of all - the end of term staff concert -Exams at Christmas and in the summer - having to remember to be quite around the gym and Old Gym.
What am I doing now? I present the event Drivetime programme on BBC Essex - a three hour mix of music, news, travel, entertainment, finance, cookery and chat. I arrived at BBC Essex in 1995, having trained for a year at Darlington College of Technology's radio journalism course, then worked at Radios Newcastle, Cleveland, Humberside, York, Leeds and Lancashire. I also spent a short time at TFM...but decided commercial radio was not for me!
BARBARA SKELLY
I started Polam Hall School at the age of 11 from the local village primary school. It felt very big and intimidating but it did not take me long to realise that it was a small friendly school, with small class sizes and an intimate atmosphere. I loved going to Polam Hall and never dreaded Monday mornings. I enjoyed most lessons and activities except needlework! I was a very sporty person, playing lacrosse and tennis and sprinting in Athletics. One of the highlights of my time at Polam Hall must be when I played a bird in the school production of Noyes Fludde.
I left Polam Hall having gained 11 O levels, 4 A levels and an S level. I felt sad to be leaving but also very excited at the prospect of going to University. I was accepted to study Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge University. My chemistry teachers were extremely encouraging. I will forever be indebted to them for giving me such a good grounding in basic chemistry at both O level and A level.
After graduating from Cambridge in 1991 I worked at the Vet School for 1 year before doing a Ph.D in molecular genetics. I then went to work at the University of Pennsylvania as a post-doctoral fellow for one year before returning to the UK to take up a clinical position at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London.
I am now a lecturer in Small Animal Studies at the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, University of Cambridge. I do clinical work involving cats and dogs and research into the molecular bases of inherited diseases in the cat and dog. I am also a fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge. I am married to a fellow lecturer, Dr Robin Franklin, although I have retained my maiden name at work. In my memory Polam Hall School is a relaxed and friendly school where I was able to get on with my work and other activities in a supportive atmosphere. I also vividly remember singing the school hymn at the last Speech Day. It was a very moving occasion.
FIONA KAY NELSON-VAN LOON NEE NELSON
Abiding memories I have from my time at Polam: an incredible circle of friends who came from all over the world. The great fun I had and despite an aptitude for being "easily distracted" I gained continual support and encouragement from teachers and gained good exam results which set me in good stead for a successful future. I will never forget the excitement of rehearsals with the dynamic duo (Mrs Saunders & Mrs McIntyre) when staging school productions and my own, rather unladylike, but great fun, performance as Bill Sykes in 'Oliver!'. Exploring and enjoying the grounds never lost its appeal, even when we reached 6th form age!
Over all, I went through school knowing that I could be and do anything and that the future was mine to embrace.
Following sixth form I went to Art College for 3 years and after graduating as a fully-fledged Copywriter I set up my own business, won a national award and freelanced my way into a career. However after a while (and a little more real life experience) I decided to head back to the classroom and study in a more traditional academic role.
I gained my degree in Politics and French from Durham University in 1997, having spent an amazing second year working and studying in The Netherlands.
I secured a position at American Express and from there over the past few years I have completed their Graduate Management Programme, had several different roles from Customer Service Manager to Project Manager and since last June, have been working for the company as a manager in Amsterdam within the International Consumer Card Services Group. Challenging,
stressful and rewarding sums corporate life with Amex up rather well. Both Mrs Barnaby and Mrs Hamilton may be interested to know that I manage (successfully!) a multi-million $ budget as well..Who'd have thought it?!
Married in November 2001 to my Dutch husband. We live in a small village called Haarzuilens, west of Utrecht and although I miss vital things like friends and family (and smoked back bacon!), I know that my time and friends at Polam helped to cultivate my love of travel and experiencing different countries and cultures with an open minded attitude.
I never knew exactly what I wanted to do - still don't. However Polam Hall prepared me well and even now, I know that I have a bank of skills and competencies to stand me in good stead, which were nourished during my time at Polam Hall.
I still carry with me that 'can-do' attitude that was started at Polam and continue to see the future as exciting and changeable, ready for me to embrace - even at 30! What will I do next? Well it's a choice between starting an MBA, heading out of Amex for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, or perhaps something else.....the whole world is still out there waiting to be experienced.
One thing I do wonder though - where did the story about Lavender Walk being haunted come from...and is the ghost still there?????
Victoria McLaren (nee Brooks) 1988 to 1996
After leaving Polam Hall I went on to study at the University of Teesside in Business Studies for 4 years. During the time at Teesside I took the opportunity to study one semester at the University of South Carolina USA which was a wonderful experience. My year out was spent working for Gregg Middleton Stock brokers which enabled me to learn some vital negotiating and people skills. On completion of my degree I was awarded a 2:1 (4 points from a first) and also won the Financial Institute award for my dissertation.
My aim after University was to go travelling but things were to change when I was asked to help in our family company by going out to New York for 6 months to set up a manufacturing license agreement worth £2m between FRC Corporation and GB SOLO Ltd (our family company). Both companies specialise in Fire safety equipment and I was setting up an agreement for FRC to manufacture our Thermal Image camera. This was a huge learning curve as not only did I have to come up to speed on business practices but the Americans do things a lot differently to us. I got to demonstrate our products all over the USA and my most daunting task was demonstrating to the New York Penitentiary.
On my return to England the then Managing Director of GB SOLO Gordon Slack asked if I would take a permanent job with them in Scunthorpe and control purchasing and production in the factory which then had a 14 strong staff force. Unfortunately Gordon Slack became ill and had to have a triple heart by pass which meant that I had to take on the day to day running of the company during his absence. On his return he did not feel he could give the dedication needed to be Managing Director so asked if, with his guidance, I would take on the role. This was a very daunting task and has meant that from the age of 24 everything I have done has been a real learning curve. In November 2003 I won Young Business woman of the year for Humberside and North Lincolnshire. Recently as a company we have won South Humberside’s Exporter of the year in 2004 and 2007 and on 22nd June I won Business Person of the year for Humberside and North Lincolnshire which was wonderful.
We now have a manufacturing site in Texas USA and outsource throughout the UK and the rest of the world. The company is ISO9000:2000 approved and we are MED accredited as well as many British standard requirements all of these are audited and means that our business practises have to be first rate. Working for GB SOLO has enabled me to expand my knowledge beyond my expectations as we deal in such a specialised product and because we are so small you get to experience every aspect of business.
