Westholme had the pleasure of catching up with Dr Eleanor Lynch during her visit to present the Prep Prizegiving Awards 2024. Eleanor spent the afternoon sharing fond memories with staff and students, celebrating PREP student successes and providing thought-provoking advice for our current pupils.

We caught up with Eleanor to ask about her Westholme experience, and all she has been up to since...

How would you describe your Westholme experience?

I loved it, Westholme creates people and really prepares you to be ready for the ‘world of grown ups’. It taught me vital communication and teamwork skills and how to present myself both to individuals and large audiences. You don’t realise it when you’re at the school, you just think about how class it is and how much fun you’re having, but you walk away and realise just how much it provided.

Did you have any favourite subjects or clubs?

I loved English Literature, it was one of my favourite subjects. I was involved in all things musical and drama; performing in shows such as Sound of Music, Phantom of the Opera, Oliver, Grease, Peter Pan (I was Tinkerbell – the flying was very fun!). I went on so many choir tours and loved getting involved with choir.

What did you do after you left Westholme?

I always dreamed of becoming a doctor, and continued working towards that by studying Medicine at the University of Dundee. I graduated in 2018 and worked around the country, including Aberdeen, Middlesborough, Manchester, before settling back down in the Northeast. I recently completed my final exams and have started as a GP. I am applying for full-time GP partnerships, which is really exciting!

I have just purchased a house, and am busy renovating it with my boyfriend, and we look forward to welcoming our new puppy Sunny to join us.

What does a ‘day in the life’ look like for you?

I wake up and go to the gym or on a run to start the day, followed by work at 8am. My mornings are spent with coffee and admin to catch up on things and organise myself for the day. I have clinic in the morning, as well as home visits and visits to nursing homes. This lets me interact with a variety of people and brings a lot of diversity to the job, making it all the more enjoyable. I tend to work in clinic in the afternoon, and stay until the evening if I am on call. It is the best job, no day is the same and every day brings new faces, new challenges and new memories.

Has Westholme changed much since you left in 2013?

The Westholme spirit and sense of community is still here. I think it has changed, but in a good way, you can see the school developing and improving whilst maintaining its core values.

Do you have any advice for current students?

For all students, embrace every opportunity Westholme gives! You really don’t realise just how good it is until you leave, so make the most of it!

For any aspiring medics: graft, get the grades you need - medicine is tough to get into, but hard work does pay off and it really is worth it. When thinking about applications, show them that you care, and you would suit a caring role. Maybe volunteer in a care home, or animal sanctuary, or any role that involves caring for others.

We thank Eleanor for her excellent speech, which inspired our Prep students at the 2024 Prizegiving, and look forward to seeing her at future Westholme events!