Barnabas Day 2026: OV Dr Wing Commander Bonnie Posselt

On Tuesday 11 March 2026, King’s had the pleasure of welcoming back OV Dr Wing Commander Bonnie Posselt (Cr 98–03), who had been invited by the Head to become the newest member of the Barnabas Group.

The Barnabas Group brings together distinguished OVs who have excelled in their professions and invites them to share their experiences with pupils in Worcester Cathedral. Founded in 2008 and named after St Barnabas – the “son of encouragement” – the group aims to inspire future generations by offering insight, advice and encouragement drawn from real-world experience.

Bonnie is a Consultant in Aviation and Space Medicine for the Royal Air Force, working in a highly specialised field that supports pilots and astronauts operating in some of the most extreme environments imaginable. She was the first woman in the UK to qualify in this discipline and is also a qualified pilot herself. During a tour with the United States Air Force, she completed a PhD investigating human performance using 3D helmet-mounted displays in aircraft. She has even served as the doctor on a simulated mission to Mars, spending six weeks conducting experiments in the remote deserts of Oman.

Bonnie’s fascination with aviation began during her time at King’s, where she studied Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A Level, alongside an after-school Astronomy GCSE. Her first experience of flying came through the CCF RAF section, sparking an interest that would shape her future career. After completing degrees in Aerospace Physiology and Medicine, she became captivated by how the human body responds to the extreme conditions encountered in flight and space travel.

Addressing the whole school in Worcester Cathedral, Bonnie gave a captivating account of her career, her inspirations, and the path that led her to aviation and space medicine. Her message to pupils was simple but powerful: stay curious, be confident, and seize opportunities when they arise. She concluded with the encouragement that “you can do anything.” (You can watch Bonnie’s speech in full via the King’s YouTube channel HERE.)

After Assembly, Bonnie returned to familiar territory in the Science Block, which she described as “practically a second home” during her time at King’s. There she visited her former tutor, Dr Mark Poole (Hon OV), joining his Upper Fourth Chemistry class as they worked through a particularly tricky topic. Bonnie happily helped tackle some of the questions, while enjoying Mark’s characteristically lively teaching style. She also reminisced about being taught Chemistry predominantly by the late Keith Bridges (Hon OV) and also Richard Geary (Hon OV), both of whom she remembered fondly.

 

En route to Donna Salkeld’s (Hon OV) Lower Sixth Further Maths set, Bonnie enjoyed a warm reunion with her former House Tutor, Gilly (Hon OV). They shared memories of school days, including the moment Bonnie first declared that she wanted to be an astronaut, a goal Gilly had every confidence she could achieve.

Donna’s class were keen to hear about Bonnie’s career in the RAF, particularly how her role as a doctor fits within military life and the opportunities available to medical professionals in the armed forces. Inevitably, the discussion also turned to Maths, and Bonnie reassured the students that maths remains a vital part of her work, regularly helping her test evidence and inform important decisions.

Senior Deputy Head Dr Alison Oliver (Hon OV), joined by Heads of School Dan A and Sonali P, then formally welcomed Bonnie into the Barnabas Group, presenting her with the King’s Worcester Shield with the School’s many thanks for her contribution.

The day continued with more lively discussion back in the Science Block. With Yvonne Beardsmore’s Lower Sixth Physics group, Bonnie answered a wide range of questions, from the greatest challenges she has faced in her career to the achievements of which she is most proud. She also described some of the improvements she has helped introduce for pilots, particularly during long sorties, including changes to cockpit design and flight suits. These developments are especially important as increasing numbers of female pilots enter a field historically designed around male equipment.

Josh Hemming’s Upper Remove Maths group were equally inquisitive, exploring the role of maths and statistics in Bonnie’s work, as well as learning more about her remarkable simulated Mars mission.

Bonnie also visited Dr Richard James’s (Hon OV) Lower Sixth Chemistry class, where students were preparing for an end-of-topic assessment. The visit prompted further reflection on Bonnie’s own time at King’s and the teachers who had shaped her interests. She was particularly pleased to see that one of the labs still had the wooden benches she remembered so well.

Between lessons, Bonnie took the opportunity to explore the School and revisit some familiar landmarks. At the Michael Baker Boathouse, she chatted with Head of Rowing Jim Chalmers (Hon OV) while recalling the building’s far more modest predecessor, known simply as “the Shed” during her school days. Edgar Tower, once the School library and now home to the Classics department, also brought back many memories. Of course, a return to King’s would not be complete without a moment of reflection in College Hall, itself unchanged for hundreds of years.

In addition to the memorable buildings, an important person for Bonnie to see was Biology teacher and former CCF lead, OV Nicki Essenhigh (née Featherstone,Co 84-86). While at King’s, Bonnie had been a committed member of the RAF CCF, working closely with Nicki both at King’s and when Bonnie returned to help with King’s CCF camps after Sixth Form. Bonnie and Nicki had time to catch up alongside Nicki’s Upper Remove biology class, who were fascinated to hear more about Bonnie’s PhD.

Pupils in the Fifth and Sixth Form with an interest in medicine or a career in the military then joined Bonnie for lunch in the Bolland Meeting Room in School House. The conversation ranged widely, from RAF careers and medical training to Bonnie’s current work helping to “future-proof” RAF aircraft so they can accommodate a broader range of pilots.

We are enormously grateful to Bonnie for returning to King’s and sharing her experiences so generously. Her visit provided inspiration for pupils and staff alike, demonstrating where curiosity, determination and a willingness to embrace opportunity can lead.