Brent Women of Renown

In the last edition of the KHS newsletter, we told you about our intrepid Year 13 Language A level group’s visit to the RAF museum where they participated in a workshop run by Midge Giles, Academic Director for Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge and biographer of Amy Johnson. They were also there to interview Giles about the life and achievements of Amy Johnson for a documentary on the lives of inspirational women of Brent.

On November the 6th at the KILN theatre in Kilburn, the documentary received its premier screening. The screening was well attended and among the audience was the Mayor of Brent, Orleen Hylton and Headteacher Alex Thomas. Students were able to watch their contribution on the big screen, interviewing Midge Giles and taking part in the workshop. After the screening, winners of the creative writing submissions went up on stage and performed their pieces to the audience. The evening was a celebration of inspirational women of Brent as well as our brilliant and aspiring 6th form students.

Watch the documentary film featuring our students and learn about the great Brent women of renown and their impact on our community.

Here is one of the winning submissions produced by A level language student, Zohaib N

Amy Johnson gripped the control stick as her beloved Jason fought against the relentless fury of the sandstorm. Her goggles were coated with a fine layer of grit, her once clear view now obscured by the swirling chaos outside. The wind buffeted the tiny aircraft, threatening to cast it aside like a leaf in a tempest.

It had all started as a routine journey across the vast and desolate landscape. Amy's adventurous spirit had always been drawn to the challenge of flying in unpredictable conditions, but this sandstorm was like nothing she had ever encountered before. The desert roared with fury, its dunes rising and falling like the tumultuous waves of a turbulent sea.

In the confines of the cockpit, Amy's heart pounded in sync with the engine's roar. She knew she had to maintain her composure; panic was a luxury she couldn't afford. Her eyes darted around the instrument panel, trying to read the gauges amidst the rattling vibrations. She needed to know that her beloved Jason was still holding up against the onslaught.

"How are you holding up, Jason?" Amy called out as she patted the dashboard affectionately. "We've weathered storms before, haven't we?"

The sandstorm seemed relentless, and the sun was obscured by a thick, ochre haze. It felt as if time had lost its meaning; minutes seemed like hours, and hours felt like an eternity. The suffocating grip of the storm left Amy disoriented, and she had to rely solely on her instruments for navigation.

Her mind drifted back to the days when she was an unknown aviator, before the world recognized her name. Amy had always been the fearless one, daring to push boundaries and shatter expectations. She thought of the countless times she had soared through clear blue skies, feeling the freedom of flight coursing through her veins.

But now, in the heart of this sandstorm, she questioned whether her daring had led her too far. Doubt gnawed at the edges of her mind, and a haunting whisper of fear tried to steal her courage. She clenched her jaw, refusing to succumb to uncertainty. She knew that bravery meant acknowledging fear and pushing forward despite it.

Through the thick haze, Amy caught glimpses of the distant desert floor, a treacherous carpet of swirling sand. A forced landing in these conditions would be disastrous. She had to keep flying, no matter what.

Jason shuddered as if acknowledging the same peril, but it responded to Amy's steady hand on the controls. They were a team, and together they had faced countless challenges. She couldn't let this storm break their bond.

With each passing moment, Amy's resolve strengthened. She knew she couldn't control the storm, but she could control her response to it. Her thoughts turned to her loved ones waiting anxiously for her safe return. She owed it to them and to herself to fight on.

"Alright Jason, just a little longer," Amy whispered, the words barely audible over the roar of the storm. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched the control stick, her eyes fixed on the altimeter inching upward. The minutes stretched on, but Amy's determination remained unyielding. Suddenly, as if the desert itself had grown tired of challenging her, the storm began to relent. The sand began to settle, the sky slowly cleared, and Amy sprung out victorious.