Lady Davies of Stamford, Chairman of Governors

A Tribute to Lady Davies of Stamford from Mr Tim Reid, Governor of Mayfield School 

Chantal started at St Leonard’s-Mayfield in 1961 and left ten years later to attend Oxford, reading Modern Languages and in 1981 started an MBA at INSEAD. Both before and after INSEAD she had a stellar career in the City and in 2012 she became a Governor of Mayfield School taking the role of Chairman in December 2014 from which she retires at the end of the year.  

Chantal has risen from the very bottom of the Mayfield hierarchy to its very top. She is an exemplar of what one can achieve as a result of a single sex Catholic school education. 

Looking back over her 64 years connected to Mayfield, she has done an enormous amount. Whilst I would not in any way shape or form wish to underpay hundreds, if not thousands, of behind-the-scenes actions which she has undertaken, I would like to point to four of them.   

She leaves the School in good shape, no mean achievement in difficult times. Secondly, she oversaw the completion of St Cecilia’s – our wonderful music school and thirdly, she oversaw the completion of the universally admired Wellness Centre known as St Raphael’s. Finally, she was responsible for securing the appointment of the School’s new dynamic and impressive Head, Deborah Bligh, who is leading the School so well.  

Chantal’s belief in the Cornelian Principles; Joy, Compassion, Integrity, Generosity, Gratitude, Respect and Courage have enabled her to fulfil this role to which she has been devoted. Over the seven years during which it has been my privilege to sit on her board, I have witnessed Chantal demonstrate each and every one of these principles first-hand. She is, in short, a living example of a life led according to those principles and Mayfield has benefitted enormously as a result.   

Thank you, Chantal. 

Tim Reid 

Governor of Mayfield School