The Chronicle 682

13 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Natasha Townsend What do you do at Teddies and how long have you been here? I am the Rowing Coach for the senior girls. I started in March 2021. What did you do before? I’ve recently had two children, very close together: Bea is two and a half and Marli is one and a half, but before that I was Head of Rowing and a Deputy Day Housemistress in a Day House at Queen Anne’s School where I also taught Art. Tell us about your own education. I went to Newent Community School in Gloucester and then on to study Fine Art at the University of Reading. While I was teaching at Queen Anne’s School, I studied at Buckingham University where I completed my PGCE. Tell us about your own sporting history. I have been lucky enough to compete at two Olympics, Beijing and London, finishing in fifth place in the women’s eight on both occasions. You studied Fine Art and are an Olympian – how did you balance these two different disciplines? In truth, I found it quite tricky to manage both and I struggled transitioning from school to university, mainly because I had to be independent. I wish someone had given me a stern talking to and told me to study a bit harder! So, when I got the chance to go back to university to study for my PGCE, I grabbed it with both hands. Tell us about girls’ rowing at St Edward’s – what’s on the horizon? I am super excited about girls’ rowing at St Edward’s. They have so much potential! So far, I have been very impressed and I am positive that there are many exciting times to come. What have been the highlights of your Teddies career so far? Competing at National Schools’ and the Scullery - at National Schools, the girls’ quad placed ninth in the country from a field of 32 crews and at the Junior Scullery our Junior 16 double placed fourth. What’s your favourite sporting moment? It was at the World Championships in 2011 in Bled, Slovenia. It was the qualifying regatta for the London Olympics and we won a bronze medal. It was an amazing race, and the venue is gorgeous. I would definitely recommend that people go there for a visit! Are you still a practising artist? Yes, every now and then. Mainly for presents and I’ve painted a few things for my daughters’ bedrooms. I have also been commissioned to paint - which was very exciting but nerve- racking at the same time. Best advice you’ve ever been given? My favourite quote is by Michelle Obama: ‘Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.’