Emma attended The Hammond from to I was a dance student on the three year senior school course studying dance and training to teach. In year 2 I converted to the Musical Theatre Course. In my final year I was Head Girl. It felt like we rehearsed for weeks and I loved the intensity of that rehearsal period, spending 10 hours a day at college, probably more, with rehearsals all weekend too.
I was involved in the jazz, tap, contemporary and ballet pieces. It was a steep and intense learning curve; memories include Sara Neil spending an evening teaching us how to do our hair and make up for Les Sylphides in a studio behind no 12 Liverpool Road ; Suzanne Cunningham developing and choreographing the contemporary piece as her pianist composed the music alongside her, rehearsals in the theatre with Gillian Anthony and Sara Neil watching armed with a microphone for instant notes, and the genuine thrill of spending so much time in Chester Gateway Theatre.
I had such close friends at the Hammond, and it was a wonderful experience to share with them. Another favourite memory was during my second year, when a number of us were selected to attend a week-long course at the Royal Ballet School, in its old location on Talgarth Road in London. We had a crazy and great fun week racing around London, taking classes, choreographing, performing in Covent Garden Market and more.
Together with several other girls from my year at Hammond, I joined Circo Magico Italiano touring Mexico for 9 months. After the circus, I danced for a few more years, performing in Japan and in France. I was however plagued by bad knees, and in my mid 20s I moved into radio presenting, and later a little bit of television presenting.
I have a studio at home, and I record voiceovers for many different clients across the world. I work on corporate films, training programmes, commercials and more. I love this job too! It was lovely to see how the school has developed in that time. Mrs Hassall devoted the majority of her life to The Hammond. Her vision and tenacity took the school forward with the purchase of 12, 16 and 18 Liverpool Rd, Chester and later Hoole Bank House; through her endeavours The Hammond became, and continues to be, a centre of excellence.
