What’s the best thing about the RGS? It’s always the people. I’m lucky enough to work with such a positive, energetic group that no two days are the same. Plus free coffee.

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? “Turn it off and on again”.

If you could change your name to anything, what would it be? “Bill Gates”. The inconvenience it would cause would be worth the staff room conversations. “Speak to Bill Gates in IT”.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? Internet. Everything else can be figured out, but WiFi is non-negotiable.

If you could choose one superhuman ability, what would it be? Invisibility. Anyone who doesn’t pick that has questionable judgement!

What’s your favourite film and why? Alien. It’s fun to try and name all of the 80’s technology in the background.

Do you have any phobias? No.

What’s the strangest thing in your fridge at the moment? My gel slippers. You freeze them, then wear them on hot days. Life-changing, trust me. It might sound odd, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

What is your favourite ice-cream flavour? Vanilla. If a company can make an exceptional vanilla ice cream, I know the other flavours will be on point. If not, move on to the next brand.

What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? 
Peanut butter. I like most foods and I’m not allergic to anything, but there’s something about peanut butter that I can’t stand.

If you could be any cartoon character who would you be? 
Definitely Batman. Some days retreating to a cave would be great.

What’s the best thing about the RGS? It’s a privilege to work in a school with 500 years of history but the real foundations of the RGS lie with the people. Great colleagues. Great students. Great ethics.

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? It’s your ship so set your own compass points.

If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? Double glazing in the Old Building.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? Bear Grylls because I bet he can start a fire.

What’s your most interesting/unusual hobby? I’m part of an Improv Comedy group and we’re very funny, even though our last performance was to an audience of just 3 incredibly supportive pensioners. Turned out everyone else was watching England in the Euros semi-final. Timing is everything.

Do you have any phobias? Spiders. I used to regularly email pictures of spiders I found in the house and garden to a particularly patient and understanding spider expert I found online. He said they were all harmless garden spiders. Then I was bitten by a spider and hospitalised with sepsis.

What would your autobiography be entitled? It would be funny if it wasn’t true…see above.

Which actor/actress would you get to play you in a film of your life Sophie Thompson…when I lived in Japan, I was often asked if I knew any famous people. After saying no for ages, I thought it would be fun to say yes. So I said I was Emma Thompson’s sister. After pretending to be Sophie for 4 months I owe it to her to pretend to be me.

What’s the best thing about the RGS? Simply the people and of course the lunches!

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? ‘It is what it is’, I wish I could be more philosophical but it’s a motto I find myself saying a lot.

What would your autobiography be entitled? ‘A blender without a lid’.

What animal most reflects your personality? Probably a Spaniel, loyal, friendly and a bit lively.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? A good book or a snorkel, can I have two!?

Which actor/actress would you get to play you in a film of your life? Julia Roberts.

What is your favourite ice-cream flavour? Has to be Cherry.

If you could choose one superhuman ability what would it be? Flying so I could explore the world for free.

What excites you most about coming into work each day? Knowing that I am going to have interesting discussions and that I am going to spend time with cool people!

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? The Socratic “know thyself”.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? An empty notebook, to write down thoughts.

If you could choose one superhuman ability what would it be? Not gaining any weight even if I eat all the gelato.

Where is the best place you’ve travelled to and why? Peru, and especially the 4-day Inca trail ending in Machu Picchu. Lots of life lesson learned.

What would your theme song be? Weird fishes by Radiohead.

What’s your favourite film and why? Federico Fellini’s 8 ½. For how it explores self-doubt, anxiety, search of identity. For how it all ends with the characters joining ends in a big circle on a sandy beach.

What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat?
Pineapple on pizza / Ketchup on pasta.

If you could be any cartoon character who would you be? Goku from Dragon Ball. Especially for the hair!

What is the best thing about the RGS? That’s not easy to nail down because there are so many positives about working here. The boys are a joy to teach, and the staff are kind, supportive and professional at all times. It’s a really rewarding place to work.

What’s your life philosophy? Treasure those you love; family and friends are so important.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? It has to be a surfboard!

What animal most reflects your personality? I like to think a Springer Spaniel (we have one, he’s a joy) – very loving and loyal, needs lots of exercise but knows how to relax in between.

Do you have any phobias? Confined spaces! Went on a potholing experience once on my brother’s stag weekend, it was horrible, and I couldn’t wait to get out!

What’s the strangest thing in your fridge at the moment? Well that’s subjective! It could be the Truffle Mayonnaise but equally the bottles of Sunscreen.

What is your favourite ice cream flavour? Salted caramel.

What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? The food I definitely would not eat, even if paid, is a Durian fruit- the smell!

What’s the best thing about the RGS? The RGS community is fantastic to be a part of and I am delighted to be able to work with such conscientious and enthusiastic students.

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? Embrace opportunity, persevere and above all be kind.

What is the best place you’ve travelled to and why? Mexico, it is a beautiful country seeped in history with so much to see and do, and the people are very friendly.

What’s you most interesting hobby? I love to bake and decorate cakes. I’m not brilliant at it but I love to think of a theme and decorate a cake in that theme.

What is your favourite ice cream flavour? Mint choc chip

What food will you absolutely not eat? Chicken feet! Having tried them once when travelling I would definitely not eat them again.

Bob leads the growth of RGS family schools. He is responsible for originating, developing and supporting our overseas partnerships.

Bob is highly experienced in international education. He has spent 15 years on senior leadership teams at high achieving UK schools, following 15 years of investment banking expertise with global market-leading institutions.

When did you join the RGS? February 2022

What’s the best thing about the RGS? Every day is different, it’s a vibrant and warm community, and the lunches are fantastic!

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? You change the world by being yourself.

If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? A siesta!

What luxury would you have on a desert island? Art supplies – to paint the landscape and pass the time!

What animal most reflects your personality? A dolphin; I recently learnt they can be introverts.

If you could choose one superhuman ability what would it be? To fly, because the views would be great and I’d love the convenience of bypassing traffic.

Where is the best place you’ve travelled to and why? Alberobello in Italy; the rows of Trulli (dry stone huts) are Trulli beautiful.

What’s your most interesting/unusual hobby? Clay sculpting animal lamps.

Do you have any phobias? Spiders or any other insects that scurry.

Which actor/actress would you get to play you in a film of your life? Sandra Bullock.

When did you join the RGS? September 2023

What excites you most about coming into work each day? I look forward to working with exceptionally thoughtful and motivated students. It is a joy to be able to shape their understanding and enrich their appreciation of what is around them.

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? Always remember people at their best.

If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? I would have my dog, Winston, with me in school. He would be an excellent emotional support dog!

What luxury would you have on a desert island? A snorkel to explore/eat the local marine life.

If you could choose one superhuman ability what would it be? That’s a tricky one… I like the idea of being able to teleport, but I’d also like to be able to enjoy the journey, so I’d say being able to fly.

Where is the best place you’ve travelled to and why? I did a road trip with my brother through Florida ending up in Miami. The contrast between seeing alligators on an airboat in the Everglades and then staying in a cool hotel on Miami Beach was awesome.

What would your theme song be? Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship

What’s your most interesting/unusual hobby? I play rugby fives.

What’s your favourite film and why? My favourite film is About Time. It’s the perfect Sunday night film to restore your perspective and encourage you to make the most of each day, even at difficult or unenjoyable times.

What’s the strangest thing in your fridge at the moment? Half a cabbage sprouting another cabbage.

What is your favourite ice-cream flavour? Pistachio.

Which actor/actress would you get to play you in a film of your life? Tom Hiddleston.

What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? Dijon mustard.