A fabulous Ladies Lunch at The Star 1 May 2026

The Ladies Lunch at The Star on May 1 was a wonderful reminder of what makes the Eastbourne community so special. An lively mix of OAs, OEs, parents past and present, siblings, grandparents, and those who simply feel the tug of those invisible threads that tie so many of us back to the College. We were united by shared stories, shared connections, and a shared appreciation for a very good lunch!

Our speaker, Caroline Whaley, brought both sparkle and sincerity. As the sister of the late OE Philip Armstrong (Gonville 1975–80), former Head of School, she spoke with affection about the brother who teased her relentlessly and would undoubtedly have teased her even more had he known she had been invited to speak to this particular audience. There was laughter, and there were a few tears too, as we were absorbed by Caroline's story.

Her career, spanning elite athletes, world‑class teams at Nike, and her work empowering teenage girls in Rwanda through 'Ni Nyampinga' left the room buzzing. Her message was clear: confidence, courage, and human connection can change lives. And then, of course, there was the tiger in the room. Her Tiger for a Day philosophy felt infectious; you could sense it in the conversations that followed.

Before closing, she invited us to turn to the person beside us and share one thing from our lunchtime conversations that had struck us. What followed was an explosion of chatter so enthusiastic that she could barely get us to stop. It was the perfect ending: a room alive with energy, reflection, and community.

We all left the sunny dining room reflecting on how it is surely better to be a tiger for a day than a sheep for life. Its a mantra I for one am most certainly going to follow.

Listen out for my roar!