Angus Wingfield's work in the wild

On Monday 6 March, a number of  Year 11 and sixth form pupils were lucky enough to attend a talk from OE Angus Wingfield. Angus is the founder and director of Africa Wild Trails, a programme centred around wildlife conservation.

Angus was extremely honest and open about how his time at school was not always the easiest, his dyslexia meaning that academia was out of his comfort zone. He developed an early fascination for nature and wildlife which was, for him, a real escape from the pressures of work. Angus mentioned inspirational teachers at school who give him the confidence to believe in himself and now, 35 years later, he was thrilled to come back to the College and talk about the work he is doing in the conservation world.  

Dexter Ball (Craig Year 11) and Anya Rai (Blackwater Year 11) very kindly wrote a report on the talk.  

Angus primarily spoke about the work that they have done in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, and the important conservation of a small giraffe population, approximately 120 of the amazing animals. Pupils gained an insight into the work that is done on the ground and during the expeditions, learning a multitude of strategies on how they track and identify the giraffes in the picturesque bush of KwaZulu Natal. The talk was thoroughly interesting throughout, and it is always inspiring to see an OE make a successful change in the world.

Listening to the stories of Angus and his team connecting with the natural world and native giraffe species in Africa was a truly inspiring story, allowing all of us watching to imagine how beautiful an experience like that would be. The descriptions of the tough days topped off by being able to know you are helping the next generation of animals looks like an enlightening opportunity and I hope in the future I will be part of a team as amazing as Angus’s. The talk not only got us thinking about the specific animal of the giraffe but inspired us to think bigger than what is going on in our lives and to follow our hearts in everything we do no matter how seemingly impossible it seems.

We are lucky to have the Eastbournian Society network and Old Eastbournians who are keen to come back and support us as we start to plan our next steps. We were grateful for his time and insights.