A Conversation With... Miss Violet Weston

In this week's 'A Conversation With...', we caught up with Miss Violet Weston - PA to the College Bursar. In this feature, we learn more about some of the upcoming exciting estate projects, how she keeps her colleagues in the office entertained with her new hobby, and much more! 

What is your role and how long have you been working at the College?  

I work as PA to our Bursar, Mr Will Dixon, and I have been working at the College since July 2023, but it feels like much longer! 

What were you doing before working at Shiplake? 

Before working at Shiplake, I was working as PA to the Head at Abberley Hall School - a magical prep school in Worcestershire which very sadly closed down earlier this year. It is unfortunately a sad fate for many small prep schools in this difficult financial climate. 

What is a day in the life like for you at Shiplake? 

My days vary hugely, but I normally start my day replying to a lot of emails and helping to diarise all of Will's meetings; he's a very busy individual so this can take a while! I then move on to helping Will with whatever project he is working on at the time. 

How is it different being PA to a Bursar in comparison to a Headmaster? 

The role of a Head's PA was also very varied. One day I spent my entire afternoon painting the set for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the school's production. My role now involves a lot less painting and a lot more finance, but both roles share a similar trait in that I need to be able to juggle ten things at the same time! 

What is the best thing about working at Shiplake? 

Apart from the people, the best thing about Shiplake is probably the lunches. The food is incredible and it's always nice to catch up with colleagues in the dining hall. 

What do you do outside of work? 

At weekends, I enjoy visiting friends and trying new brunch spots. Recently, I have started ballroom dancing classes which I am thoroughly enjoying. Each week, I get to show Mrs Sue Arpino (our School Secretary) my new moves, which I suspect is the highlight of her week! 

What does the future hold for Miss Weston? 

Who knows; I guess I will hopefully just take over Will's job when he retires but joking aside, I am eager to see what the next few years hold. I'm really looking forward to helping the College deliver on our exciting new strategic estates plan.