It is with enormous pride and pleasure that I give you wonderful news of Hiba Al Hussein. Having completed her Foundation Year in Art and Design at the University of the Creative Arts, Epsom, Hiba has been rewarded with a much coveted place at Bournemouth University to study Costume and Performance Design.

Many of you will have been lucky enough to see Hiba performing at school. Always memorable in ballet for her musicality and expressiveness. Hiba was awarded prizes on several occasions at The Princess Margaret Competition. Dancing at school from Reception to Upper Sixth she became an Associate at the Royal Ballet School, aged 8, appeared in a book about the training of the classical dancer for English National Ballet School and left Francis Holland a year ago with Distinction for all her examinations including Grade 8 and Intermediate.

I am thrilled she is following her dreams and eagerly await one of her costume designs to be worn at the Princess Margaret Competition next year!

Valerie Hitchen