Rachel Chetwynd-Cowieson CO09

Rachel attended Truro School from 2003-2009 alongside sister Amanda CO11. She now lives in London and works for the Home Office.

Do you have any special or specific memories of your time at Truro school?

A lot of my favourite memories are from my time in the Boarding Houses – Pentreve and Malvern. It was home away from home and a lot of fun. I also have fond memories of all the excellent trips (ski trips, choir tours and hockey tours are particular favourites). All the memories really were made by all the incredible friends who I’m still in touch with today: Emily James, Izzy Bland, Claire Powers, Annalise Watts, Lucy Cotton, Bethany Stivey (nee Milton), Morwenna Hawes (nee Scott), Sophie Hicks and Alex Reed – all CO09.

Did you have any siblings or other relations at Truro School?

Amanda Chetwynd-Cowieson CO11 who is also based in London, and is working in public affairs for an education charity.

What did you do immediately after leaving Truro School?

I went to the University of Birmingham to study Political Science. After I graduated I then went to Australia. I moved to Australia for nearly 5 years. Perth on the West Coast. I was in sales and marketing and was lucky enough to travel all over with my work, so got to see nearly all of Australia. I particularly enjoyed exploring Queensland, where you get a mix of big cities, the beaches and the tropics, all in the same state. I also really enjoyed Melbourne, which is a really fun city.

Where do you live now?

I live in South West London and am currently living with a friend.

Where do you work now and where is your employment based?

I work in the Civil Service (currently the Home Office), based in London as a Campaign Lead.

Is there any advice you could offer anyone considering a similar life or career path?

It’s never too late to get into what you want to do. If you don’t get into your field of interest straight out of university it’s not the end of the world – build up your skills and try different experiences, then you can always try again at a later date with a broader skill set (the average age of starting the Civil Service is mid-twenties, so there’s really no need to feel any pressure to start immediately).

Did you consider any other career?

I considered sales and marketing shortly after University but found my interest in politics trumped everything once I hit my mid-twenties!

Is there any advice you could offer anyone considering a similar life or career path?

It’s never too late to get into what you want to do. If you don’t get into your field of interest straight out of university it’s not the end of the world – build up your skills and try different experiences, then you can always try again at a later date with a broader skill set (the average age of starting the Civil Service is mid-twenties, so there’s really no need to feel any pressure to start immediately).

Are any of your family still located in Cornwall?

Yes, both parents are still in Cornwall, just outside of Newquay. They moved down in 2003 and like most found it impossible to leave! My sister Amanda CO11 is also in London and we hang out regularly (the shared family love of walking helps…) We all still manage to spend a lot of time as a 4, and Amanda and I love escaping to Cornwall for a seaside break.

What are your hobbies or how is your leisure time spent?

I’m a keen runner and enjoy all things outdoors, particularly a hike up a mountain or a ramble through the countryside. London has plenty to offer in terms of entertainment, which I also enjoy making the most of with friends.

Are you still in touch with anyone from your time at Truro School?

I’ve got a great group of pals from CO09 who I still see regularly (we’re split between London and Cornwall). We’ve managed to keep in touch since leaving, and it’s been lovely to have such a close group of friends who I’ve got such amazing memories with.

Do you feel your time at School, or anything about your time here, helped you to progress in later life?

Boarding at Truro definitely made the transition to university life much easier. At School I also discovered some hobbies and interests which I keep up to this day, which I’ll be forever grateful for!

What are your immediate / long term plans for the future?

I’m keen to stay in the Civil Service and build my future within that (either in law enforcement or defence). While I’ll be in and around London in the short term, I’d be very surprised if I didn’t head back to Cornwall at some point!

Read the interview in the latest Truronian.