Old Salopian awarded Sword of Honour at Sandhurst

An Old Salopian has been awarded the Sword of Honour at the Royal Military Academy.

Lucy Petch (MSH 2012-14) has been given the award for best candidate of the intake on the Officer Training Course at the Royal Military Academy - a significant achievement as part of a cohort of over 200 people of high ability and motivation.

Lucy completed the course with achievements above standard in every aspect and was awarded the prize at the Sovereign's Parade in December 2023 by General Sir Timothy Buchan Radford KCB DSO OBE, who represented the King.

After leaving Shrewsbury Lucy went to Imperial College London, graduating in 2018 with a BSc hons in Biology with Management. She had a short but successful career in the business world at Baringa Management Consulting rising rapidly to a position of Senior Consultant and then decided on a career change, joining the army in January last year.

Former Housemistress of Mary Sidney Hall and now Deputy Head Pastoral, Anna Peak, said: “Lucy was one of the early cohort of girls at Shrewsbury and took part in all aspects of life at school from beagling to fives. Lucy was a popular member of MSH and was made Deputy Head of House 2013-14. Always positive, there was never a challenge she wouldn’t take on. Her baking was legendary. I feel extremely proud to see her win this award, even though I have no right to be!"

During the course Lucy passed the Regimental Selection Board and will be joining the Army Air Corps in January 2024 with the ambition of becoming a helicopter pilot.