Interview with Mrs Wilson-Downes

What was your first ever job?

“Before or after university? Well, before university my first ever job was in a pharmacy which was actually really interesting because I learnt all about different medicines and it actually paid really well. After university I worked with solicitors where we were assessing injuries that people had to see if they should make a legal claim which was also really interesting. I studied science at university and actually the subject I now teach!”

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

“Mr Lloyd, as he was the headteacher of my old school so he taught me leadership skills. When I moved to this school the only people I actually knew were Mr Lloyd and Mrs Cattermole.”

What is your favourite sandwich?

“Cheese and pickle on wholemeal bread. I don’t like white bread, but I do actually really like seeded bread.”

What is your guilty pleasure watch?

“Lucifer on Netflix or The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix. I love to binge watch programmes. I get especially annoyed with live TV because you have to wait for the next episode or season to come out - I don’t want to wait!”

What is your favourite fancy dress costume?

“Something that involves face paint or a unicorn that maybe has rainbow face paint because my son does love unicorns!”

Who would you like to sing a duet with?

“Freddie Mercury. I really would have loved to meet him. To be honest, I wouldn’t have been very good but I’d give it a go for the experience. My favourite song of his is ‘Who Wants to Live Forever?’ because it is very poignant.I also like ‘We are the Champions’ because when I was learning to drive I went to pick up my A Level results with my Dad. When I was walking back to the car with the results, my Dad blasted out that song, not knowing what result I got but having total faith in me. I still relive that moment today.”

If you could go back in time, where would you go and what would you do?

“That’s a good question! For me, I would probably go back to Austria when Hitler was young to try and stop him from getting to power. I wouldn’t kill him but I’d try and do something to prevent him from becoming too powerful. It would make life more enjoyable for people and wouldn’t have started WW2 or even started the Cold War. But then maybe that would’ve changed things because we wouldn’t have the UN? I don’t know, but that is what I would do.”

What was your favourite and least favourite subject at school?

“My favourite was definitely Science, although it could also be History and English because I love them too. I read all the time and I usually listen to audio-books when I drive to work! Look, there’s even a book on my desk! But my least favourite was definitely art. I was so rubbish at it and found it uncomfortable and frustrating.

What emoji do you use the most?

“Let me have a look, oh it’s the laughing crying emoji. But my most used Memoji is the smiling thumbs up one.”

Did you appear in a school play?

“I did. In primary school I was in the Nativity, I was an angel and a king. I was part of the school orchestra in high school though, that meant however that I couldn’t be in any of the school plays. In the orchestra I played the trumpet however I also played the guitar and drums as well.”

Thanks to Mrs Wilson-Downes for finding time for this interview.