Maggie Ritchie - Class of 1983 

Activities involved in at school -School newspaper 

Further education - MA English Literature; MLitt Creative Writing 

Current employment and position - Journalist and author. 

 After graduating from Edinburgh University with a degree in English Literature, I became a journalist working for a range of national newspapers. I’ve been freelance for the last 22 years writing features for the Scottish and national press. I graduated with Distinction from the University of Glasgow’s MLitt in Creative Writing. 

Notable achievements - Curtis Brown Prize for my debut novel, Paris Kiss; short-listed for Wilbur Smith Adventure Novel for ‘Looking for Evelyn’. 

Most memorable moment at school - Fun and friendship with other boarders at Houldsworth House 

How the subjects you studied impacted on your career - English has always been my favourite subject and I went on to study it at university. Reading widely and well is a great training for an author. 

What influence did St George's have on you when you look back? - I made friends, and boarding helped me be independent and ease into university. 

How did St George's prepare you for the world of work? - I'm not sure school or university prepares you for the world of work - certainly not the newspaper world in the 1980s and 1990s!