To celebrate their achievements and commitment to the school, we are interviewing long-serving staff members to find out what has kept them at Norwich School and what they have loved about their time with us.
As the 2022/2023 academic year comes to a close, Rachel Lightfoot, Development Manager, shares her experiences of Norwich School with us:
What does your job at Norwich School entail?
"Running the alumni (Old Norvicensian) programme at Norwich School, bringing together the Norwich School community. I am the editor of the ON Magazine and the face behind the ON social pages. Throughout each year, I put together and host a series of events across the globe for our Norwich School community to enjoy. And raise funds to support the school and future ONs (Old Norvicensians)!"
How long have you been working at the school?
"I am about to finish my 60th term at Norwich School and will celebrate my 20th work birthday in August 2023!"
What drew you to the school initially?
"The stunning grounds of Cathedral Close and the welcome from the smiling faces and friendly staff on the day of my interview with the wonderful Nick Cooper, then Bursar. I cannot help but feel they were all laughing at my red flip flops with a suit."
What do you like most about your career?
"We are all brought together by this amazing school, and I feel truly fortunate and blessed to be doing a job I love. I share below some of the highlights;
Seeing smiling young happy people thriving in a beautiful environment every day with a brilliant common room of staff to boot!
Meeting ONs and hearing their school day stories
Making a difference to young people's lives through raising funds for bursarial support of future ONs. And being on the donor and bursary recipient journey as the pupils grow, lucky me!
Reconnecting people, 5 to 60 years after leaving school at reunions. There is something wonderful about bringing people together at any reunion; the buzz in the room is electric as school stories are shared and new memories are made.
Connecting a pupil or a new ON to one of our ON Ambassadors for help and guidance.
Also hearing about what our brilliant ONs go on to do!
Seeing people enjoying themselves at the events I have organised. Making people happy makes me happy and is the best feeling!
The Royal Norfolk Show, Leavers parents attending the final assembly, and then celebrating together at their Leavers Ball at NCFC or dining with ONs in New York or catching up at the London Drinks at the RAC (Royal Automobile Club), on Pall Mall to kicking off Christmas with the Senior School Carol Service in the Cathedral. "
What makes Norwich School special to you?
"I think I have already covered this, primarily it must be the people. Staff, ONs, Friends, our supporters and of course the children make for one big Norwich School family."
What is your favourite event of the year at Norwich School?
"Oh that is a toughie. There really are too many brilliant events. I really want to say the staff panto, I laughed so much seeing housemasters dressed as pirates at my very first staff panto, with lots of oooh’s & ahhh’s from Messrs., Bateman, Bedford-Payne etc. and Mr Barber, Mr Curtis and Mr Gent making such wonderful pantomime dames too.
There are too many school events to single out just one, there are of course firm favourites:
The school musical at the Playhouse
The Royal Norfolk Show
Gala night with the stunning backdrop of the Cathedral
Any choir performance
Jazz Night
Kicking off Christmas with the school Carol Service.
ON wise I would say it has to be:
London Drinks at the RAC
ON Day & ON Match Day
Carols in the Chapel or in London with the beautiful ON Choir
Any reunion
The ON Dinner
Durham or Bristol Drinks and further afield to the
New York Dinner the list goes on....
I can honestly say there really is NOT an event I do not enjoy putting together or attending."
What has been your most memorable experience at the school?
"There are just too many to mention, Staff Beard performing at the ON Dinner, staff parties in the JCR, however, there are two that stand out as life changing to me and others these are stories that relate to the power of gifting a NS education through a bursary...
I was interviewing a bursary recipient some years ago now for a film we were making, her dream whilst at her state school had been to secure a place at Cambridge University. She joined us in sixth form, and with her hard work and determination she went onto fulfil her dream and secured her place at Cambridge.
During our interview, having fulfilled her dream, I asked her what was next, and she told me how she always wanted to work at no. 10 Downing Street. And do you know what, I am super proud of this young lady as she nailed this dream too, I am super excited to see what happens next!
My other must be my first ever named donor/bursary recipient relationship. The very first letter I shared from the bursary recipient to the donor, I can honestly say, reduced me to happy tears. I felt so privileged to be involved in this life-changing journey.
These moments will honestly remain with me always.
A life changing bursarial gift to a future ON really does make dreams come true, and journeys to be treasured."
What do you like about the community of Norwich School and Norwich as a whole?
"I’ve said it already, how we are one big family. How lucky we are!"
If you could choose anyone to visit the school, who would you choose? And why?
"Brandon Flowers, Chris Martin, Damon Albarn or Elton John to sing at one of our Cathedral assemblies!"
Which house do you think will win sports day this year?
"Seagrim, that is the house my daughter joins in September, come on Seagrim!"
What is your greatest professional achievement?
"I am super proud of the ON programme I have created throughout my 60 terms:
Growing the events programme from 2 to 50 ish per year
Being the Editor of the ON Magazine and producing the much-loved coffee table publication
Creating a database with an amazing reach of ONs and friends aged 18 to 100 plus.
The ON Ambassador Directory – a friendly face available to ONs and pupils through industry and professional advice, activity, and sports, around the globe, year group for reunions or university
Socials for people to stay in touch
Sponsorship and Legacy programme
And new this year the creative directory"