12 May 2022
As our current Year 13s enter their final term, it's time for them to start thinking about life after Shiplake. We reached out to the Class of 2017 and asked them to let us know where life has taken them, five years on from leaving the College...
| Class of 2017 | |
| Claudia Adams Since leaving Shiplake, I've spent four amazing years studying Architecture BArch at The University of Nottingham, where I graduated with 2:1 honours last summer. I made lifelong friends and was a member of the university rowing club during my four years in Nottingham. My second-year studio project, in which I participated in the design and construction of a nursery creche and primary school for the 79 children of the community Lesedi in rural South Africa, was a major academic highlight. We were able to travel to Lesedi Village as a team to construct the building ourselves and meet all the community's children and teachers. Since graduating, I have been exploring my design career choices, and I am currently working as a Junior Interior Designer for a design and build company in Wokingham, which I am thoroughly enjoying. I'm continuing rowing on the side and now compete for Henley's Upper Thames Rowing Club. In the future I would love to take a year out for some travel and after that I would like to work in the interior design industry in London. |  |
| Marcus Bagshawe After Shiplake I went on to study Creative Music Technology at Surrey University. At university, I spent a lot of time playing in bands, DJing, and meeting lots of talented creative people. During my time there I was drawn toward the more technical aspects of audio and music and began to specialise in sound and music for video games. After graduating with a first I went on to do various music and sound freelance work. Mainly sound and music for adverts, indie games, and short films, as well as working part-time at a mobile games company. I also managed the sound for a few concerts at Shiplake! After a year of experience in the indie and mobile games industry, I joined a much larger video game studio called The Chinese Room in Brighton where I currently work as a sound designer on an unannounced project. I hope everyone at Shiplake is doing well, I really enjoyed my time there and am very grateful to the teachers that encouraged me to follow and develop my passion for music. |  |
| Henry Blois Brooke After having the best seven years of my life at Shiplake, I went to Oxford Brookes from September 2017 to May 2020 to study Sports and Exercise Science - I had such an amazing three years there. At Oxford Brookes I achieved a lot which I am very proud of, including: -Double Henley Royal Regatta winner - Temple Challenge Cup 2019 and the Grand Challenge Cup 2021 -U23 World Rowing Bronze and Gold Medal -Double BUCS Championships 8+ Gold medallist -Head of the River winner, 2019 -Coast to Coast Ultra-marathon - 192 miles in 6 days from West to East of England through the Lake District, Yorkshire Moors and Dales -7 marathons in 7 days for NHS in lockdown - raised total of £12,000 After I graduated Oxford Brookes, I continued to row for Oxford Brookes Boat Club as a full-time athlete whilst part-time coaching the J14/15s at Shiplake College in the afternoons. It was great to be back at the College inspiring a younger generation of rowers having had a couple of years away. I was meant to join the Royal Marines in September ‘21 however unfortunately I rolled my ankle rupturing my ligaments and couldn’t run for two months - as you can imagine I was devastated. Since then, I have started working at Lifesystems & Lifeventure (who design and make outdoor survival and adventure products) as a Sales Executive. I am very much enjoying the job and looking forward to the summer months when the outdoor industry really ‘kicks off’. It is great learning new skills that a couple of years ago I would have never dreamt I would have acquired. I am still very keen to join the Royal Marines Reserves when recruitment starts up again in September to really give myself a challenge alongside my current job. Most recently, on 22 January I ran The Ridgeway, which runs from Avebury in Wiltshire and ends 87 miles later at Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. It runs from Overton Hill to Streatley, along the river Thames and then follows footpaths and parts of the ancient Icknield Way through the Chiltern Hills. I am very proud to say that I completed the run in 14 hrs 45 minutes which I am very happy with, considering I only had 3 checkpoints and had to carry most of my food and water for the day. I managed to get to 60 miles feeling relatively fresh, considering the distance. However, as the sun went down in the afternoon and my body temperature plummeted, I had to dig into my mental reserves to finish the run. In total it was the 3,900ft of elevation combined with the distance that put me in a very dark place. As the saying goes ‘challenge creates character’ and it certainly was a real challenge. I am currently planning my next adventure and hoping to tick off my first 100 mile ultra-marathon in the near future! Looking forward to catching up with all the Old Vikings at Henley Royal Regatta! |  |
Conor Crowe |  |
| Elizabeth Findlay When I left Shiplake I had no idea what I wanted to do, however after being a Gappie at Herries Prep school I realised I wanted to go into sport and education. I am now in my final year at the University of Hertfordshire studying Sport. During my time there I began playing rugby as part of the Women’s Rugby Team where I had the best time (despite completely rupturing my ACL and MCL). I was also very fortunate to be appointed Chairwomen for the team for two years. I have just completed my first season back after injury with Marlow Ladies where we won the league! This past year I have worked across numerous primary schools engaging children in sports, before finding my current role at Rupert House School in Henley. I am excited for my upcoming travels and graduating in September! |  |
| Sophia Gibbs After finishing my studies at Shiplake, I moved to New Zealand to study Geography and Geology at the University of Otago. Coming into my fifth year of study, the past few years have been incredible. My degree being situated in one of the most geographically dynamic places in the world has seen me climb mountains for research, venture through the Antarctic on the University Research Vessel and take part in some incredible biological trips (unfortunately dissecting penguins, sharks and whales). In and amongst the study side of things I also completed a qualification in personal training which allows me to pursue my love of sports alongside academia. I am now in the midst of applying for a role in the United Nations based in Australia. After three and a half long years, I returned home to see much loved family and friends in the UK over Easter before heading back to complete the remainder of my degree. |  |
| Jess Hide After leaving Shiplake in 2017, I embarked on a ten month solo trip around South-East Asia. Four of those months were spent living and teaching English in Suzhou, China, which sparked a real love and interest in teaching. I was initially going to Lancaster University to study Psychology, but whilst in China I reapplied to study BA Education at the University of Birmingham. Whilst there, I joined the ski society (Brumski) and in my final year, became part of the committee as Social Secretary. I graduated in 2021 with a First Class degree with Honours. Since then, I have been working at Gateway School in Great Missenden, where I am a Learning Support Assistant. I'm so happy to be able to say that I look forward to going to work each day. During the past academic year, I have had so many amazing opportunities within teaching and have totally fallen in love with it, so next year I'm off to UCL to undertake my PGCE in Primary Education. |  |
| Olivia Lucas Five years ago I left Shiplake to start my Childrens Nursing degree, with a passion to be a Neonatal nurse at the a university of Surrey. I hoped to join the rowing club, however soon after starting my course I realised that being a nurse and working shifts whilst committing to a team wasn’t going to work. During my three years at university I completed placements at Great Ormond Street, community nursing and at Frimley Park hospital on their Neonatal unit, A&E and Children’s wards. During this time I still felt my passion was with premature babies and started my newly qualified nurse role on the Frimley Park Neonatal unit. However my final year and qualifying didn’t go quite to plan due to Covid! I was soon asked to qualify early and go straight into work at Frimley Park hospital helping out in adult ICU and within paediatrics. This was the biggest challenge of my life so far, and during this time I really struggled. However I believe this experience has now enabled me to be the nurse I am today. I am currently completing a neonatal intensive care course in the hope to move up the ladder within neonatal nursing. I couldn’t have got to where I am today without the help of Shiplake and my tutors at the college. I loved my time there and hope to visit in the future! |  |
| Maddy McNerny After leaving Shiplake, I spent a year in the hospitality industry at Danesfield House Hotel and Spa thinking that would be my career. After a while, I developed a love for makeup and got introduced to working in the film, TV and theatre industry. I spent eight months training at The Iver Academy at Pinewood Studios learning to do hair and makeup which took me on numerous opportunities with working for the National Film and TV School, the Westend as well as touring around the UK on a theatre production as a wig assistant. Due to the pandemic, I was unable to find work therefore trained as a barber at the London School of Barbering which is now my current career. I love being a barber as it’s a very rewarding job and can’t wait to see where it will take me. |  |
| Tom Mottram After my four years at Shiplake College, I decided to go work with a small accounting practice in Henley-on-Thames. Here I began studying to be a Charted Accountant going down the ACCA route, gaining exposer to all things tax and finance related. After leaving my role in Henley and a brief stint working for the family business, I decided to pursue a greater career ambition and got a job working at KPMG, I now work at KPMG in the Private Equity and Alternative Funds Tax team. I am now also coming to the end of my studies and will be a fully qualified charted accountant this year. During the last five years I have also taken to opportunity to travel to places I had never been before with more planned for later this year. |  |
| Sebastian Newman After leaving Shiplake College I started at Brooks University as an undergraduate, I graduated in 2021 with a 2:1 BA (Hons) in Business and Management. Whilst at Brookes University in 2019, I was part of the crew that won the Temple Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. In 2021 I was part of the crew that won the Ladies Challenge Plate. Recently I started a new role as Sales Development Representative with GoCardless Ltd. |  |
| Seb Rivett Since leaving Shiplake I threw myself into the world of work by temping at various different companies, in all kinds of industries. After six months I found my feet at a Management Consultancy and mid pandemic I changed career paths to Estate Agency. My job has resulted in crossing paths with many familiar names and faces from school, and I hope it continues! Throughout the past 5 years I have continued playing rugby, representing Marlow RFC 1st XV regularly and playing with some Shiplake teammates. I’m incredibly grateful for the education I had in and out of the classroom at Shiplake College; setting me up for success in all aspects of current life. |  |
| Hassan Rubbani After five brilliant years at Shiplake College I went to Royal Holloway University to study Management with Business. Covid played a huge part in my experience at university, but I took away a lot of life lessons and what I could achieve in the future. Since then I decided to pursue a career in sales and landed a job within the Tech Industry. I am now working for a London based data company called Cognism as a Sales Development Representative. | |
| Maisie Webb Wow, has it really been five years since I left Shiplake?! Whilst at Shiplake College I was adamant that I didn't want to go to University, but 6 months later when all my friends were in different parts of the country, and I was working in retail, I felt the need to head out myself. So in September 2018 I went to Oxford Brookes University to study a BA in Publishing Media and in June 2021 I graduated with a 2:1. I achieved a first in my major project for which I wrote, illustrated and designed a children's book called the 'A-Z of the Environment and Being More Eco-Friendly' which I have since self published and is available to buy in Bell Bookshop in Henley. (Crazy I know!). I am now back in Henley working for a luxury travel company called Humphreys of Henley, which started as a temporary admin role, and has developed into a permanent role where I am responsible for the company’s marketing and design. Back in August 2020, I created an Instagram account called @fussyfoodiemaisie where I showcase my love for cooking, eating and socialising. |  |
| Emily Wilkinson After leaving Shiplake I went to Royal Holloway UoL to do Zoology. I managed to achieve a First Class degree and come top of my year in Behavioural Ecology as well. I had the amazing opportunity to do my dissertation on a population of turtles in Mexico and I now work running the long-term project every summer! I’ve just finished my Master’s in Marine Ecology working with Royal Holloway UoL and the Natural History Museum but unfortunately lockdown meant that wasn’t as exciting as had been planned. In September I will hopefully be starting my PhD out in Mexico. Until then I’m working on publishing two research papers, getting some travelling in and hopefully getting my PADI dive master qualification. |  |
We contacted every member of the Class of 2017 via email to ask for their news. If you are an Old Viking from the class of 2017 but didn't receive the email, then please update/register your contact details here.
