Rhubarb 2017

10 ST EDWARD’S r h u b a r b

The Armed Forces Rosie Hamilton (K, 2000-2005)

Interviewed before the 2017 OSE Military Dinner by LCpls Octavia and Sybilla Hamilton (Fifth Form, Jubilee House) What are your strongest memories from your time atTeddies? Mostly those spent outside the classroom: living with everyone in Corfe, on the hockey pitch, on the squash court, CCF and DofE. Did the history of war heroes at the School influence your view of the military? I think it definitely had an impact, though more subconscious at the time than conscious. Having the names of those who served in the First and Second World Wars written on the walls in chapel where I sat at least twice a week, every week for five years, probably did have an influence, though both my grandfathers having done National Service also had a significant influence. I think it’s probably something that is stronger on reflection rather than at the time. Did you know what you were going to do before you left School? When I left School I wanted to join the army as a doctor, and had a deferred place at Manchester Medical School. I spent a year working locally, played semi-professional squash and worked for Teddies, and then at the end of that year I went to Australia and ended up staying there for two years! On my return I went to Bath University to do Sport and Exercise Science, and joined Bristol University Officer Training Corps (which is like a cross between CCF and the Army Reserve). I learnt a lot there and was good at it, so when someone suggested I applied for regular officer selection, I went for it. I passed and then never really looked at any other options. Then I suddenly found myself at Sandhurst one Sunday afternoon with an ironing board under my arm wondering what the hell I was doing there! Tell us more about your time in Australia. I went out to work in a cattle station - chasing cows basically, mostly on horses, sometimes on motorbikes and quad bikes. It was great, although not the kind of thing for everybody. I was working on a huge remote station two or

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