Lieutenant Colonel Giles is an officer in the British Army’s Royal Logistic Corps and made headlines when she became the first woman to be made a College Commander at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in its 300-year history.
She took command of New College at the world famous military institution and has been hailed as a role model for other female members of the armed forces. Lieutenant Colonel Giles is responsible for the training of young cadets over the course of their 48-week spell at Sandhurst.
Since her history-making appointment in 2015, she has been humbled to receive an entry into the Debretts’ People of the Day in 2016 and was the winner of the ‘Inspirational’ and ‘Woman of the Year’ awards at the inaugural Women in Defence event in the same year.
She said: “I’m very honoured to be an ambassador for First Women UK, a judge for the Women in Defence awards, a mentor for the Girls’ School Association and a patron of women of the Commonwealth so to meet so many inspirational young girls today is particularly special. Times are changing and you all have so much potential.
“There are some great opportunities ahead for all of you so seize them – be comfortable in your own skin, challenge the status quo, don’t accept no for an answer and don’t give up. The sky really is the limit in what you can do so be confident, courageous and just go for it and with the grounding that Truro High School has given you – a personalised, happy, all-round education – you will be able to achieve your life and career aspirations.”
Seventy eight prizes were awarded in total for a range of achievements including general academic progress, excellence in a particular subject, engineering, outstanding written English, creative writing, drama, art, linguistic skills, singing, composing, business, swimming, sport, helpfulness and sustained effort.
A brand-new award aimed to mark out the next generation of young fashion designers has also been introduced this year. The Salvoni Prize for Creativity in Textiles recognises the talents of pupils in the school’s award-winning textiles department and has been kindly donated to the school by milliner and owner of Plum Boutique Sam Salvoni and her husband Robert. The prize was this year awarded to Year 13 Alice.
It’s an exciting time for the young creative who was amongst those receiving a top prize at Falmouth University’s CreatEd Awards last week. Competing against students from nearly 25 schools and colleges from across the county, Truro High’s pupils scooped more top awards and commendations than any other educational institution at this countywide competition.
One of the most important dates in the school diary, Speech Day is celebrated every year with a special ceremony in Truro Cathedral to mark the end of the academic year and look ahead to the future.
The school’s Chair of Governors, Mrs Anna Corbett said: “As the summer arrives and the hot and sunny days are with us, the school will be bereft without our girls. As always, have a wonderful summer and come back to school in September with all the noise, chatter and enthusiasm you can muster and, as you arrive, your teachers, your new headmistress and your governors will be waiting to see and hear you all bring our school back to life.”
As well as waving goodbye to the school’s Sixth Form leavers, pupils, parents, staff and Governors bid a fond farewell to Headmaster Dr Glenn Moodie who is leaving the school to take up a new role as Principal of one of the highest ranking schools in Malaysia – a post that takes him and his wife closer to their families in New Zealand.
He will be succeeded by Mrs Sarah Matthews who will join Truro High in time for the start of the new academic year in September. She is currently acting Head of St Mary’s School in Shaftesbury and previously worked for Harrow International School in Hong Kong.
