Alumni Voices: 'I fundamentally believe in the value of education. The gift in my will to King's is a way of saying thank you.'

From studying Greek vases and monuments to advising on energy policy, Margot’s life has taken many twists and turns. Now based in Brussels, she has sold her paintings and prints in several exhibitions.

Margot tells us the tale of her extraordinary career, finding her modus operandi at King’s, and why she’s leaving us a gift in her will.

A community of classicists

‘King’s was my first choice due to its excellent reputation for Classics. The interview with Professor John Baron and Carlotta Griffiths-Dionisotti sealed the deal. I still remember how friendly it was.

‘London reflected the challenges of the early 1970s: from IRA bombings in 1973 to raging inflation rates. I lived in the Halliday Hall of Residence, for two out of the three years. London back then was already an exciting city and a vibrant cultural hub.

‘The Classics common room was right at the centre of our self-contained community. The room provided a backdrop for much of my university experience, including rehearsals for the near mandatory participation in the annual Greek play. This felt like a terrifying obligation and there was a lot of trepidation on my part. Afterwards there was always a sense of achievement for having done it.

‘The course taught me so much including how to analyse and reason, think, discuss and present arguments. All the teaching was good but I especially recall how Dame Averil Cameron challenged me to ‘question the sources’, to recognise bias in the way narratives were framed and to view and query historical events from different perspectives. An important approach that holds true today.’

Giving back

‘I fundamentally believe in the value of education in society and in the value of humanities as a discipline. It’s distressing to see universities close their humanities departments, due to financial difficulties. Though I’m flexible in how the gift in my will is spent, I’d like to keep the emphasis on funding humanities courses.

‘The gift is also a way of saying thank you. I owe King’s a lot in setting me up for a good life afterwards.’

Forging a career in steel and gas

‘Though I enjoyed Classics, I didn’t want to be an academic. My father was a senior manager in the National Coal Board in Scotland, so I was used to industrial policy issues being brought back home.

‘In late 1979 I joined British Steel. In January 1980 there was a national steel strike. This meant working very long hours. Parliament was asking for reports daily. As a graduate trainee, I was part of the team preparing these and I had to draft replies to parliamentary questions. It was quite a hectic year, and I was still finishing my PhD!

‘I later moved to British Gas where I worked as a Financial Analyst, evaluating proposed investment schemes. I complemented my work with an accountancy course. An opportunity then came up in Brussels and I embraced the challenge.

‘Energy was still a man’s world, so I was often the only woman in meetings. At the time, women often worked in Human Resources. My work would have been similarly regarded. I was listening, writing and providing summaries of decisions. It was often assumed I knew how to type just because I was a woman, though at the time I couldn’t type! I am happy to say that during my years in Brussels, I saw this attitude towards women change. When I look at some historical cases of what women went through (and still go through), I feel very lucky.

‘It was difficult to reach agreed sector positions on some issues. Even reaching a clear position on policies felt like an achievement. To see that industry position reflected in final legislation was a bonus.

‘I became an accomplished speaker, overcoming nerves to contribute to public debate before very large audiences. I was an Honorary Lecturer at the Dundee University Energy Centre and a Member of the Training Advisory Boards for both the Council of European Energy Regulators and the Energy Community for several years.’

Blending art with the ancient world

‘In the mid-1990s, I discovered an art school within walking distance of my house.

‘I’ve always had a creative streak. As a child, I’d talked of being an artist, before Greek and Latin captured me. The school was a great opportunity to return to art, so I started a part-time diploma in painting. Then I did a BA in Art History through the Open University, which I completed in 2009.

‘I paint in oils and watercolours, and do a lot of print making. My paintings hover between figurative and abstract, and many of them are inspired by Greek sculpture or Greek myth. My 2015 solo exhibition, Reflections on a Myth, showed a series of Orpheus themed works.

‘I’ve recently bought a small building in Brussels, which I’m renovating into my own art studio. I plan to hold open studio days and to host exhibitions there.

I did not make my career as an artist. I now have the freedom to be creative, due to my other rewarding career path. My advice to anyone embarking on a career would be to find something you value. You may be surprised by how well things turn out.’

Like Margot, you may have fond memories of King’s. Leaving a gift in your will is a wonderful way to give back and pave the way for the next generation of students. Visit our legacy pages to find out more.