Alumnae Profiles

There is no such thing as a typical ‘Walthamstow Hall girl’, and former pupils have pursued successful careers in fields as diverse as medicine, public relations, the diplomatic service, finance, fashion, media and journalism, design and publishing. ‘Leavers’ keep in touch with each other and with us, enabling our current pupils to benefit from links with the network of previous generations of Walthamstow Hall girls.

Professor Beverley J Hunt, FRCP, FRCPath, MD

Professor of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Kings College London
Founder of the charity Lifeblood, a Playwright and Triathlete (1974 Leaver)

Professor Hunt graduated from Liverpool University in 1979, she is now Professor of Thrombosis and Haemostasis at Kings College London and a Consultant at the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust in London.

In 2005 Professor Hunt helped to set up Lifeblood, the thrombosis charity that campaigns to prevent many of the 25,000 annual deaths from hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis. She is the organisation’s Medical Director. Her recommendations on deep vein thrombosis formed the basis of an All-Party Parliamentary Health Select Committee Report.

Beverley has also written a play that has been performed on the London stage, is a mother and competes in triathlons.

“Wally Hall taught me to apply myself fully to my work and gave me a very altruistic outlook, which led me to my career in medicine.”

Janine Gibson

Editor of guardian.co.uk. (1990 Leaver)

After graduating from St John’s College, Oxford, where she studied English Literature, Janine pursued a career in journalism. In November 2008 she became Editor of guardian.co.uk, the UK’s most popular newspaper website. She has also been Editor-In-Chief of Media Guardian and G3 Editor of the Guardian’s weekday specialist sections. Janine has also worked as Media Correspondent for both The Guardian and The Independent.
 
“Everyone I’ve spoken to who went to this school with me had an experience that has defined who they are now. For me, it was my English teacher who encouraged me, gave me extra reading lists, took me to plays and suggested other ways to broaden the way I thought about literature.

For one of my friends it was a Music teacher, who did much the same thing, for another it was being in and directing a House Play, for another it was actually being caught doing something slightly bad and pulled up in the right way.”

Victoria Boreham

Actress (1999 Leaver)

After leaving Walthamstow Hall, former Head Girl Victoria graduated in Drama and the Performing Arts from Birmingham University and then went on to study at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, from where she graduated in 2005, secured herself an agent and has been working as a professional actor ever since. She has performed in productions at the London Old Vic Theatre and the Bristol Old Vic Theatres, amongst others, and has been Guest Lead in Holby City.

“I owe a great deal to Wally and especially to my inspirational Drama teacher, who gave me the confidence in my abilities to step forward into this profession.”

Most recently, Victoria, whose stage name is Vicky Cambell, has received rave reviews for her performance of Sally Bowles in I Am a Camera running at the Rosemary Branch Theatre until 29th May 2011.

Rowan Pelling

Newspaper Columnist and Broadcaster (1986 Leaver)

Rowan studied English at St Hugh's College, Oxford before starting her writing career working in the offices of Private Eye. At the start of her career Rowan edited The Erotic Review magazine and also wrote as a Columnist for GQ magazine and The Independent on Sunday. She now writes weekly columns for The Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph.

Rowan was a Booker Prize Judge in 2004 and her work in journalism now includes television and radio documentaries, as well as regular appearances on Radio 4. She live s in Cambridge with her husband and two young sons.

Alison Petit

Business Strategist (1990 Leaver)

After graduating from Exeter University, Alison worked at Simmons and Simmons, Clifford Chance and Barclays Investment Services as a Business Director. She went on to become a Director of Rothschild Private Wealth Management.

In 2006 Alison won The Rising Star Business Award from Management Today magazine. Today she runs her own Strategic Marketing Services Company, offering consultancy to banking, legal and professional service companies.

Julia Streets

Businesswoman and Comedienne (1988 Leaver)

Businesswoman Julia Streets lives a double life, combining running her own business consultancy company with performing as a part-time comedienne. By day Julia is the founder and Managing Director of her firm Streets Consulting working with financial services clients across the City and Canary Wharf. By night she is a stand-up comic who has performed at the Edinburgh and Henley-on-Thames fringe festivals often alongside the Financial Times' Miss Moneypenny.

Julia will return to her roots this summer performing at The Ship Theatre on 30th June as part of the Sevenoaks Summer Festival.