Lucie Clayton College was founded by Sylvia Lucie Golledge in 1928 as a modelling agency and

finishing school A finishing school focuses on teaching young women social graces and upper-class cultural rites as a preparation for entry into society. The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the education, wit ...

. It was bought by Leslie Kark who owned a successful model directory. It became Britain's top modelling agency during the 1950s and 1960s with Evelyn Gordine as the principal. Gordine (later Kark) was the business's public face using the name "Lucie Clayton".

Later History

Sylvia Lucie Golledge founded the organisation in 1928 as a modelling agency and finishing school. It had offices in Oxford Street. It was bought by Leslie Kark who owned a successful model directory named "Model". Kark's personal assistant Evelyn Gordine became the principal. Another employee in the office was Muriel Spark (before she was full-time novelist). Gordine used the name "Lucie Clayton" as her business name. In 1956 the owner, Leslie, and the Principal, Evelyn, married and it was the Kark's who ran the business. Modelling became a higher status profession in Britain and the business moved to 66 New Bond Street. The modelling agency closed in the late 1970s but the school now prepared their charges for " the Season". During the 1960s the alumni of the school included

Sandra Paul Sandra Howard, Lady Howard of Lympne (born August 1940) is an English novelist, former model and the wife of Michael Howard, a former leader of the Conservative Party. Life She was trained at the Lucy Clayton Modelling Agency and as Sandra Paul ...

, Celia Hammond and Joanna Lumley, who actually had careers modelling. Many of the student's did not expect to enter a modelling career and the business became a de facto

. In the early 1990s, Lucie Clayton reinvented itself as a secretarial and business college. The courses ranged from a few days up to a full year and included skills such as shorthand to IT to

budgeting A budget is a calculation play, usually but not always financial, for a defined period, often one year or a month. A budget may include anticipated sales volumes and revenues, resource quantities including time, costs and expenses, environmen ...

, marketing, public relations, law and

personal development Personal development or self improvement consists of activities that develop a person's capabilities and potential, build human capital, facilitate employability, and enhance quality of life and the realization of dreams and aspirations. Persona ...

. Along the way, students may pick up the odd City & Guilds or London Chamber of Commerce & Industry professional qualification. At the end of the course they left with Lucie Clayton's certificate. The list of employers associated with the college includes

Amanda Wakeley Amanda Jane Wakeley OBE (born 15 September 1962) is a British fashion designer best known for her evening and cocktail dresses and accessories, and for her “clean glam” signature style, has also developed a presence in daywear, including day- ...

, Arthur Andersen, Hermes, JWT, the BBC, Vogue, and Schroders. In 2007, Lucie Clayton College merged with two secretarial colleges, Queen's College and St James's College, to form Quest Business Training. Today it is known as "Quest Professional" and it has moved to Grosvenor Gardens. Lucie Clayton House in South Kensington, London was converted into seven serviced apartments.

Notable faculty

* Evelyn Kark - Principal of the agency * Jean Broke-Smith - head-teacher in Ladette to Lady.

Notable alumni

* Jemma Kidd - countess, make up artist, model * Fiona Campbell-Walter - model, socialite *

Anne Dunhill Anne Dunhill, Countess Zamoyski M.A. (born 12 December 1946) is a novelist and Italian translator. She is also a former debutante and model. Early life and education Anne is the granddaughter of Alfred Dunhill. Her parents were John Dunhill (Alf ...

- novelist, translator, and granddaughter of

Alfred Dunhill Alfred Dunhill (30 September 1872 – 2 January 1959) was an English tobacconist, entrepreneur and inventor. He is the progenitor of Alfred Dunhill, Ltd. a London-based luxury goods company owned by Swiss company Richemont and the Dunhill t ...

Celia Hammond Celia Hammond (born 25 July 1943) is an English former model who has since become known as a campaigner against fur and for neutering of cats to control the feral population. Early life Hammond was born to English parents and raised in Australia ...

- campaigner and founder of Celia Hammond Animal Trust * Joanna Lumley - actress, former model * Pippa Bennett-Warner - actress *

Paulene Stone Paulene Stone (born 10 May 1941) is a British former model. She was a ''Vogue'' cover girl who embodied Swinging London in the 1960s. Early life and career Born in Guildford, she left school at the age of 16 to work in central London, commuting ...

- Vogue cover girl * Samantha Juste - Top of the Pops TV presenter * Sandra Howard - novelist, wife of

Michael Howard Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne (born Michael Hecht; 7 July 1941) is a British politician who served as Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from November 2003 to December 2005. He previously held cabinet posi ...

*Maripaz Jaramillo - Colombian visual artist. *

Vicki Hodge Vicki Alexandra Hodge (born 17 October 1946) is an English actress and model. She appeared in the films ''Every Home Should Have One'' (1970), ''Layout for 5 Models'' (1972), ''The Stud'' (1974), and ''Confessions of a Sex Maniac'' (1974), as we ...

- actress and model. * Lorna McDonald - former model * Jean Shrimpton - model, actress *

Carole White Carole White is a British former model, and co-founder of Premier Model Management. Early life White was born in Deal, Kent in 1950 but raised in Ghana. At the age of five she was sent to a boarding-school in England, then later to a convent in ...

- model and founder of Premier Model Management * Nuala Quinn-Barton - model, film producer and mother of actress

Mischa Barton Mischa Anne Marsden Barton (born 24 January 1986) is a British-American film, television, and stage actress. She began her career on the stage, appearing in Tony Kushner's ''Slavs!'' and took the lead in James Lapine's '' Twelve Dreams'' at Ne ...

* Tania Mallet - model, actress * Gillian Tett - financial journalist

References

{{reflist Educational institutions established in 1928 Finishing schools 1928 establishments in the United Kingdom