Old Princethorpians

Two OPs, Ben Haden and Will Pullen (Class of 2018) are lacing up their trainers ready to pound the pavements as they start their training after having been accepted to run in the London Marathon 2024.

Ben told us: ‘Whilst sitting on my sofa watching a movie, dairy milk in hand, the last thing I expected to see was a message from Will saying he was inspired by the movie ‘Run Fat Boy Run’ and would I run the London Marathon with him. Without much thought and just excitement, I said yes, half due to the thought of taking part in something so incredible and for a great cause, the other that I might not get accepted to run anyway, so I said yes why not, as I didn’t want to seem weak! Anyway, we got in and are now both training for the London Marathon 2024!

Our past sports experience together does not stretch further than the South Coast Tour 2013, third-team football, and some post-lockdown runs around Leamington – so we cannot wait to get started on this challenge. We have stretched ourselves further by aiming to finish within the 4-hour mark, so we really do have to get running! ‘

Ben is running in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity that provides young people with nurses, youth workers, and event organisers to help them cope with their illness. Across England, the charity has a specialist unit in every NHS cancer treatment hospital. The Teenage Cancer Trust are the only UK charity dedicated to this vital need. The support from the charity does not stop at a clear diagnosis. Instead, the nurses and youth workers stay with the young person from their first diagnosis and for up to two years after their clear diagnosis, to make sure the young person is comfortable and can live life to the full. He is aiming to fundraise £2,000 for this amazing cause!

Will is running for Anthony Nolan, an incredible charity which makes lifesaving connections between patients in need and strangers ready to donate their stem cells. Every year over 2,300 people start their search for a matching stem donor. This is because someone with blood cancer or a blood disorder is unable to produce healthy blood cells. After receiving a stem cell transplant and intensive chemotherapy the person has a fighting chance to begin to grow and make healthy blood cells. Anthony Nolan carries out groundbreaking research to improve survival rates and life after transplants. They also grow the stem cell register, finding more donors for patients and resources so that more local donors can be found. Will is aiming to raise £3,000 for this fabulous cause!

Ben and Will can’t wait for Sunday 21 April 2024, when all their training and fundraising will motivate them in their mammoth marathon run around the streets of London. They hope their efforts will provide a perfect reason to gather all their old friends from Princethorpe together and if their blisters are not too painful and legs not too sore they plan to go to the pub after for a well-deserved drink.

If you are interested in following their training ready for the big day, please follow their Instagram page aptly named @runfatboysrun_

Do consider supporting them as they tell us they will likely need as many shouts and cheers as they can get.

If you would like to donate to either (they will not be offended if you choose one or the other) their fundraising links are below, and any donations will be greatly appreciated.

2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/ben-haden 

2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/will-pullen

Good luck to them both!

Huge congratulations to OP Daisy Vucevic (Class of 2019). Daisy joined Princethorpe College in Year 7 from Foundation Prep School, Crackley Hall School, and has this summer she graduated from Selwyn College Cambridge with a First Class Degree in Theology and the Philosophy of Religion.

That's a fantastic achievement Daisy, we wish you all the very best for the future.

OP Luke Baldock (Class of 2018) shared his graduation news. Luke studied Medicine and has just graduated from Bristol Medical School with a merit.

He is now working as a junior doctor at the Bristol Royal Infirmary currently in a general medicine role but hopes to specialise in anaesthesia later in his career.

He told us, "It's certainly hard but good fun!"

Many congratulations Luke and good luck with your career.

OP Laura Baskerville (Class of 2018) shared her graduation news and her plans for the future.

She told us:

'I recently graduated in French, Spanish, and European Studies from the University of Southampton with First Class Honours. It has been a wild 5-year journey, one that has allowed me to develop my language and communication skills, as well as spend a year living abroad in the French Alps! I am currently working in hospitality full time and plan to travel for 5 months in the new year, before starting a Masters in Migration and Global Development in September 2024.'

It was lovely to hear from you Laura, enjoy your travels!

Former Princethorpe Head Boy and Class of 2010 leaver, James Godden, is now a Senior Investment Manager at Killik & Co. He has just launched an exciting new venture around savings and investments, Killik & Co's first ever Pop Up Shop outside of London, in James' home county of Northamptonshire.

Comments James, "Questions around Finance have undoubtedly become more pertinent of late. Will I have enough to last me into retirement? Are my investments performing in the best structure and most tax efficient way as possible? As a Midlands local, I want to ensure that as many people as possible from my area can discuss these sorts of questions, and that they shouldn't be charged for that initial discussion."

James and his colleague were in Long Buckby this week with the Pop Up Shop providing an informal space to talk about finances.

For more information email james.godden@killik.com or call 0207 337 0506.

It was lovely to welcome class of 2020 leavers, Ciara Hancox and Sophie Mitchell back to school at the end of August. The girls popped in to say hello and thank you to former Head of English, Chris Kerrigan, who was back in school for GCSE Results Day.

It was great to see them both looking so well and to catch up with their news, Ciara is going in to her final year at Gloucester studying Sports Journalism and Sophie is going into her final year at Nottingham studying Liberal Arts, so they are both putting the skills Mr Kerrigan taught them to good use.

We wish them well with their studies and of course all the best to Chris on his well-deserved retirement!

We were so impressed to hear that OP Luke Daniel (Class of 2019) had been signed to play semi-professional American Football in Germany. Luke joined the Pforzheim Wilddogs for the 2023 season that runs April through to September. The team competes in the southern division of the German Football League 2.

Luke started playing American Football while still at Princethorpe with local team, the Etone Jaguars Amercian Football Academy in Nuneaton. He then made College history when as a Sixth Former, he became the first Princethorpe pupil to earn an international cap playing American Football for Great Britain.

After leaving the College, Luke went on to study Business with Finance at Leeds Beckett University where he continued to play American Football. He played on the Offensive Line at Centre for LBU in the BUCS Premier North League and reached the semi-finals of their national competition two years on the trot. While he was studying, he also played in the British National League for Premier League club Tamworth Phoenix.

Luke has been living in Pforzheim since just after Easter, completing the last pieces of work for his degree remotely, commuting back in between training sessions for the final in person requirements for his course.

Luke told us, “Being paid to play the sport I love and getting to travel at the same time is a dream come true. A major ambition achieved!”

Huge congratulations to Luke, what an amazing opportunity for him. We will all be following his career with interest.

The photo is of Luke in action with the ball.

OP Laura Brazier (Class of 2014) got in touch recently and shared news of her career. She told us:

After leaving Princethorpe in 2014, I joined Mondelez on their school leaver program. 

Over three years, I completed my degree whilst working full time and moving through four different roles within the company, before being promoted to a national account manager role. 

After Mondelez, I worked for varying businesses within FMCG; always food and beverage focused and generally within sales. However, I have also done some cross functional roles within supply chain and logistics as well as a marketing hybrid role. 

I’m currently at an SME called ManiLife. My role is senior national account manager looking after total grocery sales and large national accounts. As well as supporting our UK and Ireland sales executives.  

I’m currently in the process of setting up a school leaver program of my own at Manilife. As from personal experience I can only rave about them. The Mondelez program has helped spring board me into my career and I would love to help support and develop others careers in the same way. 

It was great to hear Laura's news and also to receive her very kind offer to support future careers events.