Westonbirt Lecture Series welcomes Kate Silverton

Last Friday, the Westonbirt Lecture Series continued its tradition of hosting remarkable speakers with a visit from special guest Kate Silverton. Known for her illustrious career as a BBC broadcaster and journalist, Kate has reported from conflict zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, mingled with Hollywood stars at the Oscars, and even dazzled as a star on “Strictly Come Dancing.” Now, with a bold career change and a return to her first passion, she’s a qualified child therapist and the highly-celebrated best-selling author of two parenting guides.

The lecture took the form of an informal ‘Fireside chat,’ where Kate was interviewed by head Natasha Dangerfield. The audience was captivated as Kate shared her life philosophy of creating her own opportunities. She recounted how she initially started in finance but was inspired to pursue journalism by a terminally ill friend. At 26, she entered the field of journalism, working tirelessly to seize every opportunity; when asked to write an article on an unfamiliar subject, she stayed up all night to research it and produce the piece.

One of the highlights of the evening was Kate’s recounting of her experiences on the front line with troops in Iraq.  She received training before she departed and advised not to go on a walkabout, but she promptly ventured out in order to meet the troops and fully understand the challenges they were facing on a daily basis. Kate also spoke about the importance of embracing failure as a learning tool, sharing her own experience of falling down steps during a live performance on “Strictly.” She emphasized the need to laugh off such moments (“Get comfortable with the cringe”) and focus on the bigger picture.

Kate’s journey into child psychology began when she struggled to understand her own children’s behaviour. This led her back to her academic roots in psychology, eventually becoming a qualified child counsellor. Her passion for child therapy and advocacy was evident as she discussed her books, which aim to help families navigate the complexities of childhood development.

The lecture was an inspiring reminder of the importance of resilience, seizing opportunities and the power of following one’s passion and Kate Silverton’s story resonated deeply with the audience.