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Committee

PRESIDENT Carolyn Chamberlain (nee Nelms) Tel: 0033 553 288632 Email: carolyn.chamberlain@wanadoo.fr I was fortunate enough to start at Ashford School when Cherub (Miss Brake) was Headmistress and then under Miss Nightingale. I got to know Miss Nightingale well many years later when I became Hon. Secretary of the Old Girls’ Association, an honour which many of my contemporaries might think undeserved... I was one of the naughtiest girls at School and was on double-dusters for having accumulated 23 stripes one term! After A levels I attended the Sorbonne University, then spent a year in Naples learning Italian, which allowed me to spend the next four years at the Ecole D’Interprètes at Geneva University. I have worked as a linguist ever since. For many years I was an Industrial Market Research Consultant, writing and translating reports in English for multinational clients. Concurrently I was an interpreter in Kent and London for the Police and the Courts. I now edit the ASA School Tie. I live a very independent and rewarding life in S.W.France, coming back to UK for occasional events such as the A.G.M. in February and the Quaglino’s lunch which I organise in November each year.
VICE PRESIDENT Norma Smyth I first came to Ashford School in 1974 as a member of the English Department, staying on to become Head of English and Deputy Head. After my retirement I was honoured to be asked to be Vice President of the then OGA. As I go about my very busy life in Ashford, I will take every opportunity to promote Alumni activities among former students and staff.
CHAIRMAN Sarah Dean (nee Constantine) Tel: 07764 498696 Email: sarah@deansarah.wanadoo.co.uk I attended Ashford School from 1979 to 1984, as a boarder in Cranmer. I left to train as a nurse at the William Harvey Hospital and once qualified went to work in London as a staff nurse at St Stephens Hospital. I had a late gap year - well just 5 months - working as a ski rep in a resort in Switzerland and came back to London after that and decided to change careers and started working for a marketing company in the west end, first as an account exec and then becoming an account director. I married in 1990, and after the birth of my son, and while pregnant with my daughter made the move out of London and back to Kent - Pluckley. I have a son who is now 18 and a daughter who is 16. I was widowed in 2001 but continue to live in Pluckley, now managing a number of properties that I own and let.
HON. SECRETARY Alexia Padgham (nee Swatland) Tel: 01303 814818 Email: alexia@yourva.co.uk I attended Ashford School from 1974 to 1987, and I can honestly say my school days were very happy and content ones. After gaining the RSA Diploma for PA’s, I joined P&O in 1988 and spent the next 18 years of my career working for the Group, the major part of which was spent as PA to the Chief Executive of P&O Ferries and Main Board Director of P&O Group. I then took the bold step of setting up my own business as a Virtual Assistant, providing PA support to coaches, consultants and Non-Executive Directors. Within 18 months it had become a highly successful venture, culminating in my winning the National VA of the Year Award. This has resulted in various public speaking engagements which highly suits someone with a love of public speaking and a passion for her profession; the former being largely down to Felicity Amor’s tuition! I have a daughter at the School and a history of both paternal and maternal family at Ashford School, indeed, my daughter is now 4th generation!

HON. TREASURER Bob Wordsworth Bob is our most recent member of the ASA committee, taking on the position of Treasurer in June 2010 after his retirement as Head of Maths at Ashford School. A teacher at the school since 1972, Bob undoubtedly will be remembered and recognised by many, having seen so many changes of the school over his time there. We are very pleased to have him on the team and his CV and photo will follow soon.
Committee Members Mrs Nicky Brightling (Clarke) Mrs Debbie Nelson (Bishop) Mrs Helen Langrish (Link) Mrs Susan Godding (Petitpierre) Hon Member Marcus Allen (Alumni and Development Officer)
We are really keen to expand our committee and invite anyone interested in joining us to contact Sarah Dean by telephone on 07764 498696.

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