Working Lunch Write-up – Debra Stewart - 11.5.26

Today, I interviewed Debra Stewart, British Airways Cabin Crew, based at Gatwick Airport, during Working Lunch. This was my first time interviewing an Icenian after becoming one of the Prefects in this role, and it was a fantastic session. Debra joined Langley in Year 9 and left at the end of Year 13, in 2018. Her career path aligned with many of the attending students’ interests, including my own passion for languages and potential future in the tourism industry. While Debra’s Cabin Crew experiences seemed exciting and rewarding, many of the stories she told proved it to also be incredibly challenging at times. Debra has been in this role for two years, having been through a rigorous interview process and 7-week training programme prior to starting in the role. It was enlightening to hear about an average day-in-the-life of Cabin Crew, including the long hours and shift patterns of long-haul flights, as well as jobs and procedures happening behind-the-scenes, such as organising and cooking food in the Galley. It was a fun, light-hearted interview, which allowed all of those who attended to get involved in asking questions, introducing us to some of the skills that we might want to develop now, in order to follow a similar career progression later on. I wish Debra all the best in whatever comes next in her journey.

Written by Geno Gamble (26)