Hazel Browne
Department
Modern Languages
Qualifications
BA Univ Coll Northampton
Contact information
Telephone: +44 (0)1280 818254
Email: hbrowne@stowe.co.uk
Life before Stowe
Before Stowe I spent 12 years working for the European Parliament in Luxembourg. My husband worked in the money markets there and three of my children were born there. I had the opportunity to travel extensively with my job. We then returned to this country where my husband was setting up his own business and I had another baby - that's 4 boys in total, now aged 21,18, 14 and 12.
What do you enjoy most about your subject?
I have always loved speaking foreign languages and 'having a go' with new ones. I take great pleasure in sharing this with young people and love to see them making a real effort….with the right accent!
What do you enjoy most about Stowe?
I love coming to work in such a magnificent setting. I think sometimes we take it too much for granted - especially the golf course! The children at Stowe are great and I enjoy getting to know them on a personal level and finding out what makes each one tick.
What do others say about you?
I believe some of the kids find me 'scary'! I'm really a pussycat but they need to keep on my good side. I believe in discipline in the classroom and I guess that's where the reputation may come from!
Other hats
After lessons, I take badminton and golf. I take a merry band of students to the golf pro in Buckingham and that is great fun. I love it. Badminton and golf feature prominantly in my life.
Passions
I am fanatical about badminton and golf. I have played badminton for many years and currently represent Northamptonshire Vets (over 45s) in the inter county leagues. We have to travel quite extensively to play our matches: the standard of badminton is brilliant - you tend to run into ex-internationals quite often! When I lived in Luxembourg, I played twice for their team in the European team squash championships, once in Aix-en-Provence and once in Helsinki. I acquitted myself reasonaly well. Since coming to Stowe, I have taken up golf and I am well and truly addicted. My handicap is dropping slowly and I'm extremely competitive. Of course I do like to spend some time walking my adorable black labrador, Cara, and my husband of 24 years, Andrew (long-suffering, some would say) and I cook the occasional dinner for my 4 boys, Scott, Craig, Gareth and Kyle.