June 2014. Charlotte Wetton, mother of three teenager daughters, went to an all-girls boarding school in Essex in the 1970s/1980s. She has been an art surveyor for an insurance company for 25 years
School Britannia: How long did you spend at boarding school?
Charlotte Wetton: From the age of 10 until I was 15.
SB: Where was your home at the time?
CW: We lived in Vienna; my father worked for the United Nations. My two sisters were at the same boarding school with me, so that was good. The German teacher used to bring groups of girls to Vienna and my parents would show them around.
Charlotte at home with her dogs
SB: What memories do you have of your time at the school?
CW: I loved the fact that the school had a riding centre so I could have a riding lesson every week. I also loved the freedom of roaming around the grounds at the week-end, going to the farm to see the cows and the pigs. We had a little allotment where we grew tomatoes. I loved all the sport, particularly in the summer term.
At half-term I used to go and stay with school friends at their houses in the countryside. I still have lots of really good friends from school all these years later.
SB: What did you after you had finished school?
CW: I went to Sotheby’s for two years to learn about the art world. Then I worked briefly in an art gallery before starting as a trainee underwriter in the same company where I now work as an art surveyor.
SB: Have you sent your three daughters to boarding school as well?
CW: My eldest daughter is now at university, but my other two daughters are at boarding school together. They come home every week-end.
SB: How much do you think boarding school life has changed since your time?
CW: It has become a lot gentler and the pastoral care is much better. The children have a great deal more freedom and yet still have a good work ethos. They know much more about the outside world than we did and they want to do well. It has definitely changed for the better.
