Published on 6th March, 2020
The 8th of March is International Women’s Day, a global celebration of women’s achievements. It’s also a chance to reflect on equality and the steps that have been made, and the steps still to take in that direction. Here at the Royal Bath & West Society, we’re proud of all our women and the work they do, and we are delighted that our Senior Management Team now has a 50-50 split.
Talking around the office, it’s clear we have some amazing women working with us and we thought we’d take a few minutes to acknowledge their achievements out of the office.
First up, we have Charlotte, our Competitions Officer, who is competing with her dog, Harley, at Crufts this weekend. Harley High Flyer Harls, to give him his full name, is an 8 year old collie x spaniel, and it’s their first time competing at Crufts having earned enough points over the season to qualify. They enter the Senior 18-24 Jumping class, and we’re all rooting for them!
Charlotte describes how she started agility: “When you have a working breed, it’s important to keep active and agility was something we could do together.” Charlotte is an official Kennel Club Agility Judge, and is the first person from her club – Dog Skillz in Wanstrow – to qualify for Crufts.
Chloe is our Events Assistant & Catering Co-Ordinator. When she’s not working here, you’ll find Chloe singing, which she’s been doing for as long as she can remember. She’s also been playing the piano since she was 12 and began writing her own songs at just 13 years old, which led her to study Audio and Music Technology at university. Inspired by artists such as Kate Bush, Florence & The Machine and Coldplay, Chloe has performed at lots of festivals over the years (including local Somerset festival, The Godney Gathering, four times) and she’s supported bands such as The Fratellis and Primal Scream.
Chloe’s new EP is available now to download. Her ultimate goal is to play at Glastonbury Festival one day, and with her determination, we can easily see that dream becoming reality.
Sue, our Financial Controller, is also active out of work and is a keen distance runner. She’s competed in three marathons to date, twice in London and once in Washington DC. She won’t be running London this year but is hopeful for 2021, and instead she’s looking ahead to Bristol Half Marathon at the end of September.
We’re in awe of Sue and how she manages to fit in training around her two children, and she tells us that she runs really early in the morning, before they get up, at the weekends, and on a treadmill at home.
Sue explained why she runs: “It was partly because it was something I’d always wanted to do, and partly because I didn’t think I could.”
It’s that attitude that is so motivating, and will surely inspire more women to get out there and achieve their goals. Even the ones they think are beyond them.