Beyond King’s

Matt is an entrepreneur who has founded a number of businesses, including The Famous Tree Company, which sells saplings grown from famous and iconic trees as gifts designed to last a lifetime.

His King’s journey began at St Alban’s, before moving onwards to ‘big’ King’s, where he was a committed member of Chappel House. Matt made the most of the opportunities available at school, and thoroughly enjoyed rowing, rugby, Young Enterprise and doing his Duke of Edinburgh Awards. His favourite subject, without a doubt, was Design & Technology.

After King’s, he went on to read Product Design at Loughborough University, further developing a broad range of creative, practical and entrepreneurial skills. It was also while at university that The Famous Tree Company first took root.

After graduating, Matt turned his long-time hobby and passion into his first business: woodturning, producing a range of bespoke products, including high-end rugby ball urns.

He also launched Garrick’s Apprentice, a YouTube channel dedicated to recreating all the wands from the Harry Potter universe but using the real/correct woods for each wand. A niche project, something Warner Brothers have never done, and one that has grown into a following of more than 550,000 across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. More importantly, perhaps, is that Matt is in a friendly wager with his D.T. teacher Chris Wilson (Hon OV) to see who can reach 100,000 followers on YouTube first, and achieve the silver play button. Despite trying to win the wager, Matt remains incredibly grateful to Chris for his ongoing support and guidance.

The Famous Tree Company was inspired by a visit to Hobbiton in New Zealand during his gap year, where he was struck by the thought, “Wouldn’t it be amazing to grow your very own Party Tree?” Having had the business bubbling away in the background at university, two years ago Matt took the plunge and went “all in”. It is a real bootstrapped business and building it has been a steep learning curve for Matt, as well as a real lesson in perseverance.

Among the trees he has secured permission to propagate is Whittington Tump, which many OVs may remember, perhaps not fondly, from their school cross-country days! For others it will be a landmark driving home on the M5. And perhaps a Whittington Tump sapling might find its way onto the School grounds when they’re bigger!

OV Elly Cope (Br 17-19) owns and runs Elevate Pilates studio in Worcester. Her journey into Pilates has been shaped by a lifelong passion for movement, fitness and helping people feel their best.

Elly joined King’s for Sixth Form, studying Biology, Chemistry and Physical Education. Sport and fitness were a big part of her life, from representing the School in netball to spending time in the gym. It was an ankle injury sustained during pre-season netball shortly after joining King’s that first sparked her interest in physiotherapy.

Following King’s, studied Physiotherapy at Cardiff University, completing her degree before beginning her career as a Physiotherapist in Cardiff. Over the next two years, Elly gained experience across Musculoskeletal, Medicine, Community and Orthopaedic settings, developing a broad understanding of movement, rehabilitation and the importance of building confidence through physical activity.

Alongside her physiotherapy work, Elly began teaching Pilates classes at a physiotherapy clinic, as well as working with clients on a 1:1 basis. It was here that her passion for Pilates really grew, developing a particular love for both mat and reformer Pilates, planting the seed for a future career shift.

After several years in Cardiff, Elly returned to Worcester. Recognising a gap in the market for a dedicated mat and reformer Pilates studio in the city, she began taking her first steps into the world of business. With no previous business experience, Elly started small, running pop-up Pilates classes at venues around Worcester and gradually building a community of clients.

Her next milestone was finding a permanent home on Severn Street, directly opposite King’s, where her journey had begun. With the support of a small business grant from Worcestershire City Council, Elly invested in four reformer Pilates beds and the equipment needed to bring her vision to life.

Today, Elly is the founder of Elevate Pilates, a growing Pilates studio and community in Worcester. Offering both mat and reformer classes, Elevate brings together Elly’s physiotherapy expertise, love of movement and passion for creating a welcoming space where people can get stronger, move better and feel good in their bodies.

From an unexpected ankle injury to building a Pilates studio of her own, Elly’s journey has come full circle, bringing her back to Worcester and creating a space inspired by everything she has learnt along the way.

OV Toby Fellows (Cl 99-06) is the founder of, and runs, LetsGoVelo, which curates unique cycling experiences across the UK and overseas. His journey to where he is today, though, has been anything but linear!

At King’s, Toby studied A-Levels in Art, Geography and Maths, achieving what he now describes as “ACE grades”. He then went on to study Construction Management at the University of Reading.

After graduating, Toby began his professional career in the property industry, working towards becoming a Chartered Surveyor with CBRE in Birmingham before moving into Asset Management with Collingwood Rigby. While he enjoyed the industry, he always had ambitions to build something of his own.

As such, he relocated to Salcombe in South Devon. Alongside setting up what would become LetsGoVelo, Toby also worked on construction sites and refurbishment projects, gaining valuable practical experience, effectively running two careers simultaneously.

One of his most rewarding projects was the complete redevelopment of his own apartment in Salcombe, which taught him invaluable lessons about project management, budgeting and resilience. More recently, he achieved a long-term personal goal by purchasing a plot of land and building his own family home, where he now lives with his wife and two children.

Today, Toby runs LetsGoVelo full-time. The business organises cycling events, holidays and corporate challenges across the UK and Europe, working with breweries, wineries and hospitality venues to create unique experiences. What started as a small side project has evolved into a national business that brings together thousands of cyclists each year through a shared love of cycling, travel and community. The company also specialises in bespoke events and trips in the UK and abroad.

Looking back, Toby reflects that the last ten years have been the most stressful, rewarding and challenging of his life in equal measure. Building a business whilst taking on construction projects, property developments and family commitments has required perseverance, adaptability and a willingness to take risks. However, he firmly believes that growth comes from pushing oneself beyond a comfort zone and creating opportunities rather than waiting for them to appear.

Toby encourages current King’s pupils to work hard, be prepared to take calculated risks, and not be afraid to back themselves. Some of the most fulfilling achievements in life come from having the courage to try something different, particularly when others may not immediately see the vision. The path may not always be easy, but the rewards of building something of one’s own can be extraordinary.

At King’s, Tim studied English, Geography and Economics for A-level, and already knew where his passions lay, which led to Bangor University to read Forestry.

After graduating from Bangor, his first conservation and woodland role was with The National Trust in North Wales. He then moved to Scotland in 1998 to become a Senior Site Manager with the Woodland Trust, managing woodlands across central Scotland.

Tim’s career progressed within the Woodland Trust, and as Head of Estate and Programmes, he led major landscape-scale initiatives. These included founding the Saving Scotland’s Rainforest Programme and helping establish the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest. He also contributed to the Woodland Trust’s urban forestry work at a UK level.

In 2025, Tim moved on from the Woodland Trust to found his own consultancy, Clear Thinking, focusing on supporting companies with their strategic sustainability, social, and environmental initiatives.

Alongside these achievements, Tim has served as Chair of Future Woodlands Scotland for ten years, guiding the organisation through a period of significant growth and development and helping establish it as a respected professional body with strong governance and influence. He is currently on the board of another charity, Borders Forest Trust.

Tim is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) and has served as an assessor for Professional Membership of the ICF for many years.

Dr Bella Merlin (Co 81–83), known at King’s as Alison Nott, is an actor, writer and Distinguished Professor of Acting and Directing at the University of California, Riverside, and an internationally acclaimed expert on acting processes.

She joined King’s for Sixth Form, studying English Literature, French and German for A-level, and was hugely involved in drama, taking leading roles in productions including Mystery and Merriment and The Boy Friend. In her Upper Sixth year, she served as a very successful Head of College House.

After leaving King’s, Bella studied Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of Birmingham, where she gained a First Class degree and later completed her PhD. She also trained at the Guildford School of Music and Drama and undertook further study at Moscow’s State Institute of Cinematography.

Bella’s career spans theatre, film, television and radio. Acting credits include work at the Royal National Theatre in London, Shakespeare & Company in Massachusetts, the film Mente Revolver, and the one-woman play Tilly No-Body, co-created with her husband, actor Miles Anderson, which performs this July at the Arcola Theatre, London. She has also directed both plays and opera and has worked on productions for BBC Radio 4.

In academia, Bella has held teaching positions at the Universities of Birmingham and Exeter in the UK, and at UC Davis in the United States. She is currently based at the University of California, Riverside. Bella also founded Shakespeare-On-a-Shoestring at the University of California, producing works including Richard III and The Merchant of Venice.

She has written several books on acting, including The Complete Stanislavsky Toolkit, Facing the Fear: An Actor’s Guide to Overcoming Stage Fright, and Acting: The Basics, and has led workshops in the UK and internationally.

Committed to the power of acting for enhancing empathy, compassion and inclusion, Bella celebrates King’s as her inspirational launchpad into the joy of imagination and rigorous storytelling.

OV Emma Hammett BEM RGN (née Douglas, Co 83-85) is an expert on health and first aid, a keynote speaker, and the founder of an award winning first aid training business. Her expertise was recognised with the award of the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours for service to accident prevention and first aid training.

Emma made the most of her time boarding at King’s for the Sixth Form. Alongside her A-levels in English Literature, Biology and Chemistry, Emma also pursued her Gold Duke of Edinburgh, enjoyed coxing and rowing, was a member of the Fencing club, and played the clarinet and sax in numerous plays and performances.

Emma studied nursing at St Thomas’s Hospital following A-levels. The start of a very successful career journey.

From St Thomas’s Hospital, and now a registered nurse, Emma worked in the pharmaceutical industry and then joined the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust. There, she was the Manager for General Internal Medicine covering Hammersmith and Charing Cross hospitals and carrying the out of hours bleep for the entire Trust.

Stepping away from the NHS led Emma to found three first aid training businesses: multi-award winning First Aid for Life in 2007, www.onlinefirstaid.com in 2014 and subsequently First Aid for Pets.

In addition to running these businesses, Emma is also the author of four highly acclaimed books: Burns, Falls and Emergency Calls – the ultimate guide to the prevention and treatment of childhood accidents, supported by the Child Accident Prevention Trust; Slips, Trips and Fractured Hips, endorsed by RoSPA and AGE UK; First Aid for Dogs, and Mental Health First Aid. 

Being a now highly experienced authority on first aid, Emma is called upon by a range of medical publications for her expertise, including the British Dental Journal and Nursing Times.  She is also the first aid expert for multiple news publications and magazines, from The Guardian to The Times, The Hippocratic Post to The Huffington Post, and in demand as a TV spokesperson for all the major news outlets across local, national and international channels. Radio features regularly too, including Talk Radio and many podcasts!

Emma added, “My time at King’s gave me the confidence to realise I could do and be whatever I wanted. There didn’t need to be a set career path, and this realisation has opened so many doors and opportunities for me. I love what I do, no two days are the same. I am proud of what I have been able to achieve, being able to leave a real legacy and save numerous lives in the process!”

OV Nick Clark (H 88-90) was very busy during his formative Sixth Form years at King’s: alongside his A-levels, Nick was involved in Athletics, Fencing, Rowing, Cycling and Canoeing – he was also a School Prefect.

The University of Bath to read Civil and Structural Engineering followed King’s. Nick’s subsequent career trajectory has been the development and implementation of energy management services and asset finance within the UK, Europe and wider global markets. He has worked across privately owned, PE backed and PLC businesses and led global and household names including Feilo Sylvania, Aurora, and eEnergy Nick is currently Group CEO of CED Group where he has completed a restructure, significantly grown profitability and expanded into new markets, prior to undertaking and delivering an upcoming exit strategy for the owners.

Nick has recently added his talents as Chairman and Strategic Advisor to Fluxion, a Change Management Consultancy helping organisations and companies on their transformation journey, using his expertise to solve problems and deliver real outcomes for the business, whether it’s utilising technology for greater impact, or value creation for equity-backed businesses.

In addition to his ‘day job’, Nick is highly dedicated to supporting King’s School Worcester. He currently serves as Chair of the King’s School Worcester Charitable Trust, where he leads an outstanding group of Trustees. Together, they oversee strategic growth planning and manage investments, ensuring that the school’s bursaries continue to flourish. The Trust’s success is made possible by the generosity of OVs and friends of the school, whose donations ensure its ongoing achievements.

During his time at King’s, OV George Blakeway (H 76-86 and Old St Alban’s) took full advantage of the sporting opportunities, putting his skills to Captaining the 1st XV, playing in the Tennis 1st VI, and being a loyal member of the late Marc Roberts’ (Hon OV) Tigers XI!  This while managing his responsibilities as Head of House and a member of the CCF – not forgetting his A-levels in English, Geography and Economics.

After King’s, Loughborough University called, where George read Management. A short career as an Army Officer followed, after which he built commercial experience with Mobil, Gulf Oil and Coca-Cola while playing semi-professional rugby with Worcester Warriors.

George moved into Learning & Development as Director of Training at an international consultancy. In 2002, George took the entrepreneurial plunge and founded The Fruitful Group, an organisation specialising in performance improvement predominantly focusing on team performance, leadership and management. As George explains, “Time spent in the military, professional sport, and industry, has led to a fascination with how teams develop performance and gain competitive advantage.”

George has successfully turned this fascination into a flourishing business, working with a diverse spectrum of clients including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, International Hotel Group, HSBC, Netflix, Sky, Sodexo, Reckitt and The McLaren F1 team.

Not one to rest on his laurels, George continues to push his personal limits and competed in the 2019/2020 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race on the yacht Ha Long Bay. The team finished this 7,000 mile leg (London to Uruguay) on the podium in a very credible third place!

Alice recently completed her PhD at Oxford, testing a new treatment for pancreatic cancer. Her research involved using new models of cancer to try to bridge the gap between early preclinical testing and clinical trials. Prior to this she worked on stem cell models of Parkinson’s disease during her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences, also at Oxford.

Alice’s love for research began while she was still at King’s, spending a couple of summers working at Birmingham University researching blood clotting proteins. During term time, while studying for her A-levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and English Literature, Alice was also a committed Head of School and Captain of Boats, learning early on how to manage her time and prioritise.

Alongside her academic research Alice worked with startups, VCs, and family offices. She now works in start-up investment for the British Business Bank, assessing companies who are developing new treatments for diseases. This involves deciding which ideas are most likely to succeed and providing them with the funding to help them grow. They look at companies across the UK, studying the science behind the treatments they are developing as well as assessing whether the team are the right people to help grow the business.

Alice added, “I found out that I wanted to pursue this career during my PhD, when I worked with a start-up using genetic sequencing to help identify new treatments for rare diseases. I loved combining science with business and trying to get treatments through clinical trials and to the patients who need them. My favourite part of my job is talking to founders who are passionate about what they’re creating.”