Schools Out Bright Sparks
Lettice Rowbotham, 22 The Purcell School of Music Violinist & Songwriter
Lettice starred in ITV’s Carols at Christmas and soon after performed at 18 fashion shows for Bristol Fashion Week 2011. She will soon be recording a charity single for Mind alongside Tony Hadley from Spandau Ballet. Never happier than when song writing and performing, Lettice says “the intimacy I have with music is unfathomable…I have a strong bond with my violin and the relationship has grown over 16 years.” Music has always been the drive in Lettice’s life – from receiving a music scholarship at Purcell Music School to attending the Royal College of Music Junior department every Saturday for five years, leading to her Grade 8 Distinction in the violin with 140 marks. Lettice was thrilled to recently film and record with The X Factor runner-up Olly Murs for his YouTube channel, and has a history of performing at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square for Remembrance Day.
BSparks right
What our school leavers and graduates did next... By Natalie Milner
Emma-Jayne Parkes, 26
Co-founder of SquidLondon Tormead, Guildford
At 23, Emma-Jayne Parkes co-founded design company SquidLondon with former fellow student of the London College of Fashion, Viviane Jaeger, 27. The venture was born in 2006, but gained momentum in 2007 after both students returned from their placement year to their final year of study. The concept: brighten up those rainy days with an umbrella that changes colour when wet revealing itself as an ever-changing artwork. The idea was a success. Eight different designs now sell in 12 countries. Emma-Jayne says that one of the highlights is producing umbrella designs on request, such as with the Tate Enterprise whose Paint Drip umbrella has featured in their Top 10 sellers per month list. Emma-Jayne and Viviane say: “Our philosophy: Nothing is impossible... Our goal is bringing industries together: fashion, science and design.”
78 FirstEleven Michaelmas 2011
www.firstelevenmagazine.co.uk Jack Whitehall, 23
The Dragon School, Harrodian School, Marlborough College, Comedian
Since his nomination for the Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for his debut Fringe show in 2009, Jack Whitehall has leapt into the forefront of British comedy. Often joking on stage that he was never academic at school and that his famous schoolmates, Emma Watson and teen idol Robert Pattinson outshone him, the stand-up comedian claims that his journey into the entertainment industry was the only route that was left open to him. But with such an impressive arrival on to shows that are household names: Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week and Would I Lie to You?, it is hard to believe that he just fell into stardom. During his gap year Jack decided to pursue a career in comedy, and in his first year he was not only a finalist and runner-up in So You Think You’re Funny and Laughing Horse competitions, respectively, but also won the Charlie Harthill Special Reserve and the Amused Moose Laugh Off. Viewers of the recent Channel 4 programme Fresh Meat, set in a house of “freshers”, will have warmed to Jack’s acting debut, where his cheeky version of fresh-out-of-the-classroom public schoolboy may go a step too far, but equally provides a version of his stage-self.
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