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Laura Fairbanks - Director of Development
Laura joined the Rugbeian Community in June 2023, having spent 15 years working in fundraising for the Higher Education sector. As Principal Gifts Officer at the University of Warwick, she secured several significant philanthropic gifts from alumni and friends in the UK and overseas.
Prior to her time at Warwick, Laura was Head of Philanthropy at the University of Birmingham (also her alma mater) where she led the fundraising team and played an important leadership role in two multi-million-pound campaigns.
Outside of work, Laura has two young children and enjoys spending lots of time with them outside, running, spinning, walking, and listening to classic rock or 90s pop music.
Tash Grove - Head of Marketing & Brand
Tash (D 04-08) attended Rugby School before studying Art History at University College London. Here she ignited a passion for the arts and began a career at Christie’s Auction House. Following that, 10 years’ experience in marketing and client development has given her a brilliant understanding of the nuances of storytelling and content creation.
In November 2023 Tash seized the opportunity to return to Rugby School. With a wealth of experience behind her, Tash is excited to make a meaningful impact on the community that shaped her early years.
Outside of work, Tash enjoys running, visiting art galleries and spending time with her family and two young girls.
Tim Day - Alumni Staff Liaison
Tim Day was educated at Rugby (T 83-88) before spending a gap year on the staff at Holmwood House, Colchester. He subsequently read Classics at the University of Liverpool and trained as a teacher of Classics with Mathematics at the University of Nottingham. Tim taught Classics at Norwich School for 13 years where he was Housemaster of a day house, Head of cricket and 1st XV rugby football coach.
Tim moved to Rugby in 2006 as a teacher of Classics before serving as Housemaster of Michell from 2009-2022. Now Head of Alumni and Deputy Director of Admissions, Tim enjoys his role in the recruitment of Arnold Foundationers and local children through bursaries generated by the Lawrence Sheriff bequest.
Tim remains an active all-round schoolmaster, refereeing rugby, umpiring hockey and cricket and supporting the army section of the CCF, where he has earned the Cadet Forces Medal. A lifelong prop forward at many and various clubs, Tim focuses more on his refereeing these days, while his other major interests are record collecting and supporting county cricket, primarily as a Leicestershire CCC committee member.
As part of the Rugbeian Community team, Tim supports many and various Rugbeian Society events and is the President of the Bilton Grange Society. He looks forward to assisting with the development of alumni activities at all the schools in the Rugby School Group.
Abbie Barns – Global Data Manager
Abbie joined the Rugbeian Community team in June 2021 from her previous role as a credit controller at a pharmaceutical company. Prior to this she attended the University of Sheffield where she completed a Batchelor of Science in Geography before moving back to her hometown of Daventry.
Outside of the office Abbie can often be found on top of a hill in the Peak District or gallivanting all over the UK meeting friends from university.
Evan Lack - Data and Research Manager
Evan joined the Rugbeian Community team in May 2017 after 19 years in higher education fundraising at Oxford University. Evan was curious to see how schools development would differ, so seized the opportunity to combine his love of research and data geekiness here at Rugby.
Evan missed his calling in life to work for GCHQ or become a spy, so is thrilled that he gets to indulge his professional inquisitiveness here instead and therefore play a pivotal behind-the scenes role in Rugbeian Community activities.
Away from a computer, Evan is a keen birdwatcher, aviation enthusiast, landscape and nature photographer, weather watcher/storm chaser, astronomer and UFO conspiracy theorist. Otherwise, Evan loves being a ‘dad’ to his two dogs and is still beaming with pride that his eldest was Mini Poodle British Flyball Champion in 2016.
Liselle Dixon - Rugbeian Community Liaison Officer
Liselle joined the Rugbeian Community team in February 2022, after 14 years working in schools, initially creating and running science events, facilitating leadership courses and finally recruiting and training graduate teachers. She believes the most wonderful part of any job is encouraging, witnessing and supporting the progress of students, colleagues and trainees.
Previously, working as a supervisor in business travel for a good many years enabled her to see many very exciting places, but having two sons, both currently at university, has led to less exploration for the time being.
Liselle loves swimming, skiing, sailing, kayaking, but is just as happy travelling either to a swanky hotel or a tent in a field to sit in the sunshine with a good book. Liselle's highlight of the year is when she supports on the school Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.
