“Thank you for giving someone a chance to excel in an environment that was incredibly suited to them, in a world of unequal opportunity where he might not be proud of how far he’s come.”
Tom joined Loughborough Grammar School in Year 7 from a local primary school and grew in confidence and capability, inspired by his teachers and supported by friends. He got involved in all aspects of the School; from playing the trumpet in Big Band, to joining the RAF section in the Combined Cadet Force. Here, Tom experienced RAF camps, leadership courses, fundraising, flying planes and shooting. He set himself a goal to become an RAF Officer and we are absolutely delighted to see Tom has realised his ambitions and become a Chinook pilot in the RAF!
“Coming to LGS was a whole new world to both me and my parents and I remember being wowed by the facilities and vast array of opportunities that LGS had, in comparison to the school I thought I would be going to.
Broadly speaking, you’re placed in an environment where there is no ceiling to your abilities and therefore no career or dream is off limits. From the beginning, I understood that I was in a very fortunate position so had the drive to make the most of everything the School had to offer as it wasn’t an opportunity that I could waste. I learned courage in my own ability and choices, strength of character when times got tough, the importance of friendships and how you can rely on each other.”
“I think I tried, or at least considered, every activity the School had. I threw so many at the wall but the ones that stuck were music, CCF and athletics. The opportunities from the Music Department were second to none. If you worked hard and reaped the rewards, it took you around the country and the world and put me in situations that I would never have thought I would be in and will probably never be in again. The same goes for CCF, and probably more so because the leadership progression in CCF and offers that came up were often given to the students who demonstrated the most enthusiasm and put in the hours to stand out. These opportunities were more specific, and that has directly led to me choosing a career in the military.
“So many stories come to mind from 7 years at LGS, if you wanted to hear them all we’d need to get comfortable and have a drink! Being funded by the Johnnie Johnson Scheme to go with my best mate to France and Spain to walk some of the Santiago-Camino Pilgrim Trail and then go sightseeing in different cities. Watching the sunrise on a beach in Barcelona on a music tour and playing at the 6 Montreal Jazz Festival on another tour. The many, many, XC races with Dave Miles and the XC team blasting out “2, 4, 6, 8 Motorway” in the minibus and getting to every event with minutes to spare. Playing the Last Post overlooking the Quad on Remembrance Day. The Music Department, I owe so much to everyone there. English A-Level and cake Fridays. The many CCF experiences, from practicing drill routines, training for the gun run, flying a Hawk T2, becoming joint FS/CWO with Aashish and the various camps and days out. The many friendships made, some maintained and some lost.
It’s amazing how important these years of adolescence are. The values learned at LGS carry you through the years at the School and culminate in your ability to choose your path beyond school. I trained as an RAF Officer and went to work with the Chinook Squadron down at RAF Odiham. I started Elementary Flying Training in May 2019 and after around 50 hours in the training aircraft, I was streamed towards rotary (helicopter) flying, something which I’d aspired to do since leaving School. I started rotary training in August 2020 and did around 120 live and 60 simulator hours on the EC135, a twin engine light utility helicopter. I’m currently based at RAF Woodvale, flying air cadets whilst waiting for the next course in my goal to fly Chinooks.
Career wise, I’ve now graduated from RAF Shawbury with wings after completing the various elements of helicopter training, and I’m now waiting for my slot on the Chinook operational conversion unit down at RAF Benson. In the meantime, I’ve been posted up to RAF Woodvale as a pilot on the AEF, and I spend my working days flying the ATC and CCF cadets around Merseyside. Takes me back to being a cadet at school and I’m having a brilliant time.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the school and I wouldn’t have gone to the school without the bursary, so there we go.
[Giving a bursary will] change the course of someone’s life and if they’re anything like me, they’ll be damn grateful for it.
Thank you for giving someone a chance to excel in an environment that was incredibly suited to them, in a world of unequal opportunity where he might not be proud of how far he’s come.
Having a scholarship and bursary made me want to work harder, I knew my parents were giving up a lot to send me here. I wanted to prove to everyone that it was worthwhile. Finding out that I received a scholarship definitely changed my mindset and made me appreciate education and my experience more.
Who would’ve thought, a little 11-year-old who loved talking about the CCF, would end up in the RAF.”
