We were delighted to welcome back Old Durlstonian - Olympic, World, and European Rowing Champion – Major Heather Stanning OBE. Heather who was a pupil at Durlston during the 1990’s returned for the Durlston Speech Day celebrations as guest speaker. During the event Heather presented pupils with prizes and shared fond memories of her time at Durlston. Heather also spoke about her remarkable sporting journey and the valuable lessons she’s learned along the way. It was an inspirational event for our young Durlstonians as they embark on their next steps.
During her speech, Heather spoke about the relationships with teachers and the difference they made. Heather spoke about the life-long friends she made and remembered “watching a certain teacher at the end of the day running laps around the athletics track. Kirsty Melin was that teacher, and she is here today. I have a lot to thank her for, she made sport, and importantly, school fun for me.” Heather also remembered her tennis coach at Durlston, Marcia, who sadly passed away. “Marcia was a tennis coach, and taught me tennis here. By shear chance she also move to the north of Scotland, and for the past 20+ years lived just a couple of miles from my parents. I used to see her regularly, and as my son has recently started tennis lessons, he now uses a racket Marcia gave us. I guess my point is, as a 10 year old, I had no idea that the teachers/coaches I had would have such a big influence on me and the choices I made as I grew up.”
Durlston School prides itself on the family nature of the school’s environment - it is the relationship between staff and pupils that makes a Durlston education so unique. It is clear from Heather’s comments that this ethos is something which has been deeply embedded at Durlston for many years.
