Chair of Governors
Sarah worked in Cambridge for several years for Segal Quince Wicksteed Management Consultants and then Acorn Computers where she organised education events and conferences. Now a full time wife and mother, Sarah returned to her Norfolk roots 20 years ago after three years in Paris. Her children have been educated at Town Close and maintained close ties with the school. Since 1995 Sarah has coordinated the mini section of Norwich City Hockey Club and is on the Executive and Youth Development Committees. As well as this, her voluntary work now extends to a charitable organisation, The Norfolk Reading Project, whose aim is to support teachers in improving literacy standards across the County, particularly in areas where attainment falls below national standards.
Governor
Currently works for Vitruvian Partners, a European private investment firm based in London. This follows a period in the European equities division of JPMorgan Cazenove. Previously a student at Durham University in French and Spanish Literature, he has lived and worked in both of these countries as part of his study and has had temporary teaching roles both in the UK and in Spain.
Governor
Adrian worked at Cushman & Wakefield for over twenty years specialising in retail and leisure property throughout the UK and the Netherlands, where he was based for seven years. He came to Norfolk in 2001 and is a Partner at Roche Chartered Surveyors. Adrian’s three children were all educated at Town Close. Adrian enjoys cycling, skiing and travel.
Deputy Chair
Alistair is a Chartered Accountant and a senior partner at M+A Partners LLP. He is married with three children, two of whom were educated at Town Close from Nursery until Year Eight.
Alistair became a Governor in 2015 after his children left the School. He is Deputy Chairman of Governors and Chairman of the Finance and General Purpose Committee.
Governor
Murray Graham is a Chartered Accountant who has practiced in Norwich for thirty years. Most recently he was a partner with Lovewell Blake LLP and is currently a non-executive director and business advisor. He is married with four children, all of whom attended Town Close.
Deputy Chair
Appointed first female partner of Mills & Reeve Solicitors in 1985 and retired in 2007 and then helped organise the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme , As part of that she piloted reading sessions at a primary school whereby solicitors and staff listened to the children read in their lunch hours. Enthusiastic about music and the arts she has raised funds and organised sessions to enable professional musicians to hold workshops in local state schools , introducing them to classical music prior to attending a formal concert at a Norwich venue. She has also supported the Sistema in Norwich music programme for Norfolk children. Deputy Chairman of Governors since 2012.
Governor
Louise North is Principal and Head of the Senior School at Framlingham College. She began her career at St Peter’s, York as a teacher of French and Spanish. Having run a Day House there, she spent nine years as a boarding housemistress, first at Glenalmond College, Perthshire and then at Marlborough College, Wiltshire. She moved to Stonyhurst College as Head of Upper School and, more recently, to Oakham School as Senior Deputy Head.
Governor
Sonal Patel is a Specialist Orthodontist, Practice Principal and Partner at Smile Orthodontics. She also works at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital as an associate specialist. She is married with two children who both attended Town Close from Nursery to Year Eight and her husband Haren was a former pupil of the school.
Governor
Adrian Possener is a solicitor and heads the company commercial team at Birketts LLP in Norwich, which employs about 170 people locally and over 650 people in East Anglia. He is married with 4 children, 3 of whom benefitted greatly from being educated at Town Close. Adrian is connected to a number of local organisations, including being honorary solicitor to Norwich Rugby Club.
Governor
Now retired, Sarah was headmistress of the Perse Pelican Pre Prep from 2010 to 2020, following four years as Deputy Headmistress at Pilgrims Pre Prep School in Bedford. She served on IAPS Pre Prep Advisory Group and was an IAPS English Subject Leader. She is the Governor with particular responsibility for oversight of safeguarding and the Early Years and Foundation Stage. Sarah is also a qualified executive coach.