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| 6 Jul 2023 | |
| Getting to Know... |
Clare Scherer MBE (1981)
What did you do after Mayfield?
I was one of the first girls to go to university to study engineering from Mayfield, I think there were two of us in my year. Whilst at Exeter studying engineering I got more involved in theatre, there us a brilliant theatre on campus, the Northcott. I then left Uni and, with lots of hard work, luck and no money, forged a wonderful career as a theatre engineer. This involved being a theatre electrician, technical manager and ultimately a lighting designer. I travelled the world, lit shows in the west end and generally had the most wonderful time.
I then taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama before transitioning to the Charity sector when my son was about 5 years old.
I worked for several charities, consulting on fundraising and strategy. I advised Worth and Westbourne House schools on the design and build of their theatres. I set up and ran the West Sussex branch of the National children's bereavement charity Winston's Wish and am now the Chief Executive of the Naval Children’s Charity, a national charity supporting children with parents serving in or veterans from the Royal Navy.
Who was your greatest influence at Mayfield?
I think Sister Jean Sinclair who became headmistress when I was in the sixth form and taught me maths. She was brilliant and saw each of us as individuals.
Your best memory of Mayfield?
The wonderful friends I still have to this day, we are all celebrating our 60th birthdays this year and are an amazing bunch of women.
Where are you now?
Loving my job. Happily married to Jamie, a former Worth boy I knew when we were all teenagers together and whom I re-met 10 years ago. I have a fabulous son, was a single mother for all his life so it was lovely to then meet Jamie when my son Nat turned 21 and also become a stepmother to Jamie's lovely Ellie who is now 25.
Advice you’d give to your younger self?
Embrace change, it happens and can lead to marvellous things. Be interested in everything, it makes you more interesting. Be confident and discover who you are, be comfortable in your own skin. To thine own self be true.
