Sasha Thorbek (No.4, 1989-93) is a Radio and Television Broadcaster and has been BBC Berkshire’s Horse Racing Expert since 2008. In addition to this, and her twenty-four years of experience in the British Thoroughbred racing industry, Sasha is also the Head of Fundraising and Communications for a charity that combines equine welfare with educating people with special educational needs and disabilities through Animal Assisted Intervention, specifically using former racehorses.

1. What is your favourite memory of Roedean?

Spending time with friends, some of whom I am lucky enough to still call my closest friends after 35 years. One of whom I still speak to every single day!

2. What was the best piece of advice you were given whilst at School?

Gender shouldn’t have to be a barrier to success.

3. When you were at Roedean, what did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’?

I wanted a job which involved working with animals.

4. What are you now you’ve grown up?

I juggle two jobs…..

Radio and TV Broadcaster – I have been BBC Berkshire’s Horse Racing Expert since 2008.

In addition to this, for the last 12 years I have been Head of Fundraising and Communications for a Wiltshire based charity that combines equine welfare with educating people with special educational needs and disabilities (including social emotional mental health difficulties) through Animal Assisted Intervention, specifically using former racehorses.

5. What does your job involve?

My key broadcasting responsibilities include attending various racecourses to both comment and commentate on live horse races as well as obtaining interviews, I am fortunate that this includes all 5 days of Royal Ascot annually - here's a snippet. In addition, I perform outside broadcasts at other locations and am asked to comment on key issues surrounding the horse racing industry.

My role at Greatwood Charity includes grant, corporate legacy and partnership fundraising, as well as raising additional income from events and sponsorship. Specifically end-to-end stewardship of grant making bodies including all bid writing; plus budgeting and forecasting, data assimilation and dissemination, project and event management, and brand promotion. I also coordinate all inbound marketing including copywriting and content creation across all the charity’s social media platforms.

6. What have you done that you are most proud of?

I am most proud that I have been able to be a present parent to my five children, being fully engaged and paying attention to their needs and emotions as well as actively participating in all of their experiences, at the same time as creating a legacy with my contributory work in the charity sector.

7. What are the three objects you would take with you to a desert island?

A photo collage of my children; my well-thumbed copy of the Complete Works of Poetry and Prose by P B Shelley; a never-ending gobstopper!

8. What books have had a significant influence on you and why?

The Cult of One by Richard Grannon – this book has been integral to my recovery from cPTSD

9. What is on your bucket list?

To become a foster carer

10. If you had one year and unlimited funds, what would you do?

I would take a cookery lesson once a week in each of the 44 countries in Europe and the remaining 8 weeks of my year, I would embark on an enrichment cruise around the Galapagos Islands (including Machu Picchu) and another cruise around the Norwegian Fjords chasing the Northern Lights.