Former Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond made it a right Royal affair at Queen Ethelburga’s Speech Days. Ms Bond, 
who reported for the BBC on the monarchy for 14 years, was guest speaker for the Middle and Senior Schools’ prize givings and her message to students was to do their best and never be phased by difficulties.
“It is good for you all to challenge yourself,” she told the assembled students and parents. “My motto always was and remains ‘aim for the stars and you might hit a lamp post on the way’, so you are never too old for a spot of adventure.”
Stressing the importance of hard work and the vital foundation of a robust education, Ms Bond added: “Having a good education simply makes like so much easier and more satisfying. So even when it seems a bit boring or your homework seems endless – remember it is all worth it.”
Ms Bond went on to talk about covering the Royal family during some of the most turbulent years that the monarchy has had to endure – from fairy tale marriages to adultery, divorces and deaths.
Recounting her time after she left the BBC, she told students to never get too comfortable in life and to always scare themselves with new adventures – something she reinforced by playing a television clip from the ITV show “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here”, when she was buried in a coffin filled with rats!
Ms Bond has since gone on to take part in Stars in their Eyes, Masterchef, Stars in Fast Cars and has made a three part documentary series for Channel Five called “Jennie Bond’s Royals”.