Alexandra launches the Railway Children charity at EGA!

British popstar Alexandra Burke, Railway Children’s UK Ambassador, visited Elizabeth Garrett Anderson on 10th November 2011 to help launch new services to support young runaways and children at risk on the streets in Islington, Haringey and Camden.

Alexandra met with a group of 30 year & pupils and took part in a series of talks and workshops with the students and charity representatives. Around 40 invited guests, including Islington Mayor Phil Kelly had refreshments in the LRC before heading upstairs to meet Alexandra and the students.

The visit was cloaked in secrecy, in order to avoid mass hysteria breaking out. The girls were utterly surprised and delighted when Ms Sarah Beagley introduced 'an ex-student who would like to meet you.'

After the workshop Alexandra did a press interview and some photographs were taken outside the Garrett Anderson block.

I asked Alexandra to sign the Library copy of her Unofficial biography. She promised us plenty of free copies of the Ofiicial one when it comes out. I asked her whether she had been a keen library user, but she confessed that 'I spent more time in Art and Music; the library wasn't really my thing.'

While the photographes were being taken, Alexandra caught sight of the Food Tech students who had spotted her from their lesson and were pressed up to the window singing 'Hallelujah.' Despite protests from staff, Alex rushed over to the classroom and had to be restrained from entering the building by Ms Beagley and Ms Dibb with PC Elliott keeping a watchful eye on the situation. It was interesting to see staff revert to teacher mode with Alex, as she was very excited and enthusiastic and extremely wilful!

After another brief session with the students Alexandra posed for a group photo and then reluctantly went on her way. She was very down to earth and friendly with everybody and the charity were thrilled with the way the morning had gone.

Alex went off in her car - eventually, having stopped once to get out and hug Ms Silva - leaving her mum in school talking to Ms Bonsu. Her mother was a former singer in Soul II Soul and also a pupil at this school (then Starcross.) in fact Ms Bonsu taught them both!