#29 Ritivk Carvalho (LH 2015-16)

Ritivk Carvalho, who is now an Investment and Marketing Writer at Fundpath in London, describes his experience of the 2024 Alumni trip to The Burn.

As any Member (former or present) will attest, the prospect of leaving Goodenough College is borderline traumatic, akin to being cast out of a veritable Garden of Eden. At least, that was how I felt as I prepared to leave London House in 2016. After a grand total of two, short – but sufficiently unpleasant – house viewings in London, I quickly begged the College to extend my stay by a month. Leaving the idyllic surrounds of Mecklenburgh Square – to say nothing of its vibrant community – was emblematic of a much deeper transition for me: leaving behind a carefree student life and facing the demands of adulthood.

Fortunately, I’d found employment in London. Forging a life and career for myself in the city, I’ve been able to maintain a steady relationship with the College. In the years since, I’ve attended a variety of events at GC, and have even had the privilege of returning to deliver two talks there, one of them a Port Talk of my own.

A visit to The Burn has always lingered in a corner of my mind. The thought of a quiet, secluded retreat at a stately house, nestled in the Scottish Highlands appealed to my writerly sensibilities.

Still, the demands of adulthood, career, and living in the pressure cooker that is London, means that every once in a while, I long for those days gone by. A visit to The Burn has always lingered in a corner of my mind. The thought of a quiet, secluded retreat at a stately house, nestled in the Scottish Highlands appealed to my writerly sensibilities. So when the opportunity of an Alumni Trip to the Burn dropped into my inbox this year, I immediately booked a place for myself and my partner.

This four-night trip was a perfect blend of relaxation, cultural immersion, easy camaraderie, and intellectual stimulation. After settling into our rooms on the first day, we gathered for welcome drinks and dinner, meeting other former Members, young and old. It struck me that it had been a long time since I’d been in a room with such diversity of nationalities and people: so unique is the Goodenough experience. We were soon introduced to The Burn’s new Bursar, Jan Clarke, who presented for us her vision for the estate in a talk after dinner. At the start of her presentation, I was keen to ask Jan about how one might become The Burn’s Bursar (a late career idea?), but found my question quickly rendered redundant as she walked us through her extensive experience in estate management, heritage, and conservation.

The next morning, we visited the historic Glamis Castle. The Castle’s storied past came alive through the tales shared by our knowledgeable guide, from its origins in the 14th century, to its rumoured ghosts, and to its role as the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. One of the more fascinating aspects of Glamis Castle is its connection to Shakespeare’s Macbeth: legend has it that Duncan was murdered in this very castle. Passing a wooden sculpture of the three witches in Macbeth out in the castle gardens took me back to my days in high school, when I’d studied the play over a period of two years.

Back at The Burn for the afternoon, my partner and I had a wander about the estate, while some of our companions attempted a spot of fishing in the River North Esk. I spent a few moments transported by the breathtaking, almost otherworldly scenery, ran my hands through the cold, clear water and took in delicious gulps of the clean, cool air. Lichens populate the barks of the trees on the estate, an indication of the pristine air quality in the area. We then trudged back to The Burn’s Mansion House for tea and scones (and a nap!), followed by dinner.

After dinner, we made our way to the drawing room for a Port Talk by College Fellow Grahame Davies, a former journalist, poet and author, and who also served as Deputy Private Secretary to the then Prince of Wales. Grahame’s talk described his role in the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. As we drained our glasses of port, a lively Q&A and discussion of the British monarchy and culture ensued, reminding me of the lively intellectual atmosphere cultivated by the College through its Port Talks and other academic events.

Making an early start to our final day on the trip, we ventured out to Glen Esk, by the foothills of the Cairngorms. An hour’s walk to Queen’s Well – a crown-shaped monument built over a natural spring in honour of Queen Victoria – was yet another chance to get to know our companions on the trip better. No trip to Scotland is complete without a sampling of Scotch, which an educational tour of Arbikie Distillery supplied.

I’m always bowled over by the sheer range of people’s life stories, backgrounds, and paths taken before and after their time at Goodenough. Alice Walpole, the College’s Director since 2021, was chock-full of anecdotes and stories from her time spent in the FCO at Basra and UNAMI in Iraq. She generously peppered her stories throughout the trip, all of which spoke to the need for better understanding between peoples: a need Goodenough plays its part in fulfilling.

To round off our trip, we were treated to an evening of ‘inescapably Scottish delights’. First, a hearty dinner of traditional Scottish fare, prepped by none other than the Burn’s own fantastic staff. Andrew Turnbull dressed in kilt delivered Robert Burns’ Address to a Haggis (of which I caught only a few words) after which we dug into our plates of haggis, neeps and tatties. After dinner, a traditional dance presented by two of the Burn’s very own staff followed, and then we, the guests, were invited to break a leg.

As the trip concluded and we made our way back to our everyday lives, it was clear that The Burn had succeeded in rekindling for me the unique spirit of Goodenough.

I must make a special mention of all the wonderful, warm former Goodenough Members and staff I met – all for the first time. Conversation flowed with ease, rapport was built with little effort, and all our interactions were underpinned by a shared experience: a deep appreciation for one’s time spent at this magical place. Thank you, Goodenough!