We were delighted to welcome Jane Trowbridge – mother of three children who left in the 2000s – back to Packwood on Friday. Mrs Trowbridge has begun her one-year term as High Sheriff of Shropshire, an ancient crown appointment to support local work, the judiciary and local councils. Drawing on her experience as a magistrate, Mrs Trowbridge is passionate about youth action, galvanised by the rise in young people in our county being caught up in the shocking practice of county lines, addiction and abuse. Working with young people across Shropshire, Mrs Trowbridge has launched Youth Awareness Day, to be held annually on 16 October, as a day for young people to amplify the issues facing them and feel heard.
During her visit to Packwood, Mrs Trowbridge reflected on Packwood’s role in shaping her own children to be tenacious and possess a strong entrepreneurial spirit. She saw how young Packwoodians are able to go into unfamiliar situations with confidence and humility and asked that we, together with other independent schools in the county, could support her drive to place the youth in Shropshire at the heart of her term in office.
To this end, our chosen charity for the 2025-2026 academic year will be in support of Mrs Trowbridge’s work to create lasting legacy for the most vulnerable young people in Shropshire. Mrs Trowbridge will return in September to speak to the school about her endeavours, and our annual community day in September will be a fundraiser for this.
