Supporter Stories: Diana Balsdon

Diana Balsdon, a friend of Central and supporter

Thinking back, what was your first contact with Central?

My background is banking and, whilst I was working in finance, I was asked to become a Governor of the City Lit (an Adult Education College in Covent Garden with a student body of 25,000). 

Whilst at City Lit, I was approached to be a Governor of Central and I thought to myself ‘what a wonderful opportunity!’  I’ve always loved the theatre, I go as often as I can, and I remembered that I had thought about training when I left School (I contacted both Central and RADA).  Even then, the breadth of the courses on offer at Central was amazing.  I realised that being a Governor, would be a wonderful way to give back to an organisation that I had always interested me.   

Please tell us a memory of a particularly moving  / inspiring experience at Central. 

My memory of an inspiring experience was meeting the Student Governors.  They attended every Governor meeting, so we spent a lot of time together and I got to know them well, their backgrounds and what led them to choose to study at Central.  Their stories inspired me.   

I remember one Student Governor who was REALLY good.  He was a drag queen and from the West Country.  He was inspirational because of his journey to the School and because you could sense how Central was enabling him to develop and strengthen his charismatic personality. 

What was it that prompted you to include a gift for Central in your will?  

Well, I just love Central. I’ve been on boards of five different organisations and the first time I went to Central I could tell that it was really, really well run.  So, I have a lot of trust in the organisation.  I am also very fond of the people at Central and the camaraderie of the organisation.   

My gift in my will enables me to fulfil what I enjoyed about being a Central Governor: namely, enabling young people to choose to train for the entertainment industry (in its widest form). 

Do you have any advice for anyone who is in the early stages of thinking about including a gift for Central in their will?   

To anyone who knows the School, I encourage you to include a gift in your will.  It’s an easy way give back and a way of thanking Central for the joy that you have got from it. 

To anyone who does not yet know the School, get in touch with the Development team and ask them to give you a tour.  As you walk through the building and meet the people, I am sure, that like me, you will fall in love with the place. 

Please visit the Leave a Gift in Your Will page for more information