Vicky recalled creating a little explosion in the science lab, and less dramatic lessons learning to clean and sew. Free on Wednesday afternoons, she would explore the woods or head out on her bike. She loved the freedom she felt swimming in the open pool, encouraged by a fantastic swimming teacher, who had trained with the British Olympic team. One day feeling cold and sleepy, her classmates hid her under a pile of their winter cloaks without the teacher noticing. They used to scare themselves with tales of ghosts. One apparently lived in a mirror that looked down a spooky long corridor above the Main Dining Room.

Downe House gave her the independence, resilience and confidence to move to Paris on her own in 1966, aged just 16. She later studied languages to post-graduate level and has had a rewarding international career as a translator and conference interpreter, something she has no intention of giving up yet, at 75 years young. After Paris, Galicia and the Bahamas she brought up her family in Venezuela before returning to the UK 11 years ago.

Read more about our other inspiring alumnae in our latest Cloisters magazine