During May, we had the pleasure of welcoming Captain Amy Cooper (LHS 2009) back to campus on two occasions, where she generously gave her time to share her amazing experiences and inspire the next generation.
Her first visit was on Saturday 3 May, as the first female Inspecting Officer at our Annual CCF Review. She then returned as our guest speaker at the Loughburians’ Dinner on Saturday 17 May, delivering a moving address reflecting on her time at LHS and impressive career in the British Army.
Amy spoke fondly of her school days, where she developed a passion for sport, representing the school nationally in athletics, cross country and netball.
“I arrived shy, softly spoken, afraid to raise my hand or share an opinion. Something special happened to me during those seven years. Through the encouragement of brilliant teachers, the relentless energy of school sport and the daily empowerment that came from being surrounded by strong, funny, intelligent women, I started to grow into that ‘independent, ‘strong-willed’ person who would pursue her ambitions (and play a lot of sport). I left with not only a terrific education but a sense of who I wanted to be in the world.
I am incredibly proud to be an alumna of Loughborough High School; The exceptional teachers and experiences during those formative years; instilled an unwavering confidence and determination which I didn’t realise was so unique until I left. The strong work ethic and high standards that permeate every aspect of school life, particularly the extra mile that my teachers were prepared to go for their students, set me up for future success as I joined the British Army, as an Officer, and pledged to ‘Serve to Lead’. The tireless efforts (and I’m sure they felt tireless at times!) guidance, discipline (many, many lunchtime detentions) and mentorship from my teachers not only helped me to achieve academically but made me believe that I could achieve anything I set my mind to, which is an incredibly powerful gift. We were encouraged to push boundaries, challenge stereotypes and strive for excellence in every pursuit. This mindset has stayed with me throughout my life and my military career, and I am forever grateful for this.”
After LHS, Amy initially studied PPE at Loughborough University followed by a Post Graduate Diploma in Law at Nottingham Law School. However, her passion remained with horses and being outdoors, so she knew law wasn’t the career route for her. During her time at university, she encountered sexist views from two males, who she shared a house with, about women in the Army – views that starkly contrasted with the values instilled at LHS. – “These were not the opinions I had grown up with and were not something the High School would have ever stood for. It was probably the first time in my life I had experienced sexism and heard people say that they thought women weren’t good enough to do certain things – I realise now I was so privileged at LHS to be surrounded by champions of women, where sexism simply didn’t exist and we were constantly told we could do anything we wanted if we worked hard enough.”
This experience only strengthened Amy’s resolve, leading her to join the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in December 2016.
After completing her Young Officer’s training she joined her first regiment, 12th Regiment Royal Artillery, as Troop Commander within a Self-Propelled (SP) High Velocity Missile (HVM) Troop. She conducted exercises in Canada, Estonia, Latvia, Italy and Germany, as well as being deployed to Estonia as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence.
In 2019 she was posted to the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. She took over as the Right Section Commander and commanded her section on a number of high-profile occasions including: the State Visit of President Trump, Beating the Retreat, the State Opening of Parliament, Captain of the Queen’s Lifeguard, the late Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral and the Late Queen’s Birthday Parade in Windsor.
In 2021, Amy took over the role of Second in Command at the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, responsible for the planning and execution of all deployments, planning national level events where she was also the Parade Commander for many of the Occasions of State, including: the Accession Salute which marked the start at the Platinum Jubilee, the Musical Drive at Royal Windsor Horse Show and Firing Minute Guns to mark the Two Minute National Silence. She was made a Member of the Victorian Order for her role in the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, commanding the Gun Carriage for the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.
Amy also planned, executed and rode on the historic six-gun salvo for King Charles III’s coronation and rode as part of the Procession down the Mall to Buckingham Palace.
Currently, she serves as the Old College Adjutant at Sandhurst, training the next generation of Army leaders.
Amy finished her speech at the Loughburians’ Dinner with a powerful message about the confidence instilled in her at LHS and the importance of continuing to support and stand up for women.
“I was lucky to attend a school like LHS where women were championed, and sexism didn’t exist, but this is not the case for everyone and certainly isn’t the case in every workplace. We must ensure as women we champion each other and celebrate our achievements to break stereotypes; inspire future generations of young women; empower women to pursue challenging opportunities and to provide role models.
One of the most important forces for good in the Army, and something that I am able to champion in my current role for the next generation of Army leaders, is the female network. In what is a male dominated institution (we make up around 10%), where we can often find ourselves as the only female in a large team – these networks provide not only a vital sense of support and belonging, but also the kind of mentorship and advocacy that can truly transform careers. They offer younger soldiers and officers visible role models – women who have walked the path before them, who understand the challenges and who are willing to share their lessons. These connections build confidence, foster resilience and encourage women to speak up, step forward and lead. Female networks don’t just benefit individuals – they drive cultural change. They’re at the forefront of conversations about inclusive leadership and ensuring talent, not gender, determines opportunity. And crucially they help retain our best people by showing women they belong, they are supported, and they can thrive at every level of the organisation.
Being part of the Loughburians community means more than just staying in touch with old classmates – it means belonging to a legacy of strong, capable and ambitious women who were taught, from a young age, that their voices mattered. Loughborough High School didn’t just prepare me academically; it gave me confidence, drive and belief in what women can achieve when they support each other and aim high. That’s why championing women – in the workplace, in the Army, and in everyday life – is so important to me. It’s about making space for others to thrive, calling out inequality when we see it, and celebrating the achievements of women. I’m proud to be a Loughburian and even prouder to be part of a generation that’s shaping a better, fairer future for the women who follow. “
