Calling all 1978 leavers . . . can you spot yourself in our U6 photograph?! More than 10 of us have already signed up for Headingtonians’ Day on 10th June, so do come back to celebrate our 45 years of leaving school!

After a varied career working in London and internationally, things have come full circle and for the last five years I’ve been working at Headington in the capacity of External Relations Trustee. After university, I enjoyed a varied career working in London and internationally in Market Research, Public Relations and Management Consultancy, before working at Rothschild for 15 years as Head of Leadership & Organisation Development. Now as part of the Development team at Headington, our role is to build a strong sense of community amongst parents and Headingtonians and raise money to enhance the school's facilities and enable us to offer more Bursaries.

On a personal note, Steve and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary last summer and we have two children, Edward (29) and Olivia (26). Do get in touch via Headington Connect and it would be great to see as many 1978 leavers as possible at Headingtonians’ Day to reminisce about our time at school and catch up with what’s happened over the last 45 years.

In December 2022, a few of us ex-Napier (Evelyn Cham ('90), Janet Kweh (nee Tam, '91) and me) got together with our families to visit the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire, UK. It's a rare occasion to have Janet visiting us from Australia and Evelyn had recently returned to the UK from Hong Kong. We had so much fun catching up on each others' news.

Image: We enjoyed our visit to the Royal Submarine Museum in Gosport in Hampshire. From left to right: Evelyn Cham, Janet Kweh (nee Tam) and me (Carrie Fung).

I never thought I would be writing this. Since leaving Headington, I have gone from Olympic athlete to doctor to someone who now teaches medicine and is an educator. It is interesting how your life can be shaped into something totally different to what you imagined but for anyone who remembers me or knows my history, I would totally encourage you never to give up and to always believe in yourself. My Olympic career was cut short by a major Achilles’ tendon injury that prevents me from walking properly, BUT I had my medical studies to fall back on. Towards the end of my GP training, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. After three lots of brain surgery and other surgeries, as well as radiotherapy, I was informed I could no longer be near sick people or work clinically because I am very immunocompromised. Another blow BUT I moved to working for the Department of Health. I currently have at least 42 letters after my name from various academic achievements and degrees. I re-packaged myself gathering a lot of knowledge which has led me to become an academic teaching running a medical programme. I am a national examiner and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I have published a couple of books and will shortly embark on my doctorate in Public Health. Right now I can hardly walk up the stairs without huffing and puffing because of my health! BUT PLEASE, PLEASE be encouraged and NEVER GIVE UP!

Image: Enjoying life with my beautiful children

I completed my BSc in Mathematics and Economics from London School of Economics in 2001 and then went on to do a Masters in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. I moved to Dallas Texas to work at KPMG as an auditor and became a Certified Professional Accountant. I moved back to my home country Pakistan and currently teach at the Suleman Dawood School of Business at LUMS and work as an investment banker at a boutique bank.

I met my husband while studying at LSE. We live in Lahore and have two boys aged 15 and 11.

After seven wonderful years as Director of the Household Cavalry Museum I knew it would take a lot to tempt me away from Horse Guards. So I am thrilled that in May this year I will be taking up the post of 38th Clerk, since the Reformation, of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers, the fifth oldest Guild in the City of London. With the earliest reference to the Guild being in 1283, I am hugely excited about learning from and bringing new ideas to such a historic institution.

I was awarded an MBE on Thursday 23rd February at Buckingham Palace from the Prince of Wales! This was first publicised in Her Majesty’s Jubilee birthday honours in 2022, yet have just collected the medal. This was awarded for services to engineering, innovation and diversity.

After graduating from Edinburgh University in July with a degree in Geography I have moved to New Zealand to work as an environmental consultant for a year. Whilst in New Zealand I have continued my rowing journey which began at Headington. Over this season I was awarded the title of the fastest women’s pair and four in the North Island. I have recently received an offer to complete a Masters at Oxford University in Sustainable Urban Development so I will be returning to the UK for that!