Kensington Relived with: Renée van Leeuwen '89

Renée '89 spent 8 years of her school life at Kensington School alongside her younger sister, Emily.

Renée was born and brought up in Barcelona, having spent her youth in the city, she feels a strong connection to it's charm and continuously describes it as home. "We spent many years in Barcelona and at Kensington we made friendships for life".

Renée who is now living in San Francisco, California with her husband and two sons is focusing on her creative side as a freelance artist.

Wherever you live you always leave a piece of your heart and a very big piece of mine is in Barcelona and Kensington School.
Renée van Leeuwen '89

When did you join Kensington School?

My family's first few years in Barcelona we lived in Castelldefels and I went to a small Catalan school so I spoke Catalan before Spanish or Dutch. I still feel strongly connected to the Catalan language. My first 4 years in Barcelona were before Franco's death, it was still a dictatorship. Officially the Catalans were not allowed to speak Catalan back then. I joined Kensington in Junior 5 at Christmas time in 1981, I was in Mr Natles class. I stayed all the way through until Upper 6 and completed my A Levels at the school when I was 17.

How would you describe Kensington School?

It was a small school, it felt safe and familiar. It was warm, I thought the level of teaching was very high quality and the class groups were very small.

Did you have a favourite subject during your time at school?

I took my A Levels in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Dutch and Maths. Maths mainly because Mr Giles made everyone take Maths (we laugh)!! I remember my parents being very happy with me for taking Dutch at A Level.

I think out of them, Biology with Mr Livesey was my favourite, mainly because we had to draw so much in lessons!

It’s funny how I remember all the teachers names. I had a really good time at Kensington and these things just stay with you. My memories are still extremely vivid, I remember all the teachers, I remember a lot.

It’s funny how I remember all the teachers names. I had a really good time at Kensington and these things just stay with you. My memories are still extremely vivid, I remember all the teachers, I remember a lot.

What is your lasting memory from your time at the school?

I remember the ski trips, they were EPIC! (No that's a stupid word don't use that, my kids use that!) I also quite vividly remember the move from the old building to the new vividly, that was a change. I think I only spent one year in the new building which was a huge change from what we had moved from.

I also really remember the Queen of England coming, which was super exciting. All the parents and students were there, we had to wait for her to speak, that was quite an event!

What are the most important lessons that Kensington taught you?

It was very inclusive, it's a word that you wouldn't even think about then, at least not in that school. It really didn't matter your background, religion, anything. We had everything. We had 21 different nationalities in our class of 24!

Whenever someone new joined the school, within a week that person would be completely integrated. It was such a good feeling. Kensington was very accepting of everybody. Nationalities and religions weren't even a thing that people thought about. Instead, we learned from each other's different backgrounds and beliefs.

I have continued to carry these lessons with me ever since.

Are you still in touch with any of your Kensington School friends?

There were a lot of Dutch people when I was there, which was probably annoying because we were fairly dominant. My best friends weren't Dutch though funnily enough.

I turned 50 a few weeks ago and my Japanese friend Fumiko Takagi who I met in J6, (I have known her for 40 years this year) was here for my birthday this year. We are still really close friends. She would be interesting to talk to, she has a very cool job! She lives in Brooklyn and works in film. Her two sisters went to Kensington as well.

Her whole family spoke Japanese and I never understood a word but when I hear people hear it now it feels so homey and familiar. We spent so many weeks and holidays etc. together growing up.

I am very grateful to Kensington for this friendship, it is so rare to have friends all the way through life, especially in the international environment that we grew up in.

I remember I took O Level art and I remember Mr Martin really well. I recall his lessons quite vividly and I still hear his voice “don't be scared to use light colours and dark colours and contrast!” I still hear that sometimes when I am painting!!

Where did you go to University after leaving Kensington?

I took a gap year after Upper 6th, which was amazing. Then I went on to Universidad de Barcelona and studied Spanish culture and language. I worked as a hostess in my teens, worked at a Rolling Stones concert, I was a hostess at several concerts which were really great and fun, I was very young.

I then went on to study industrial design and engineering at Delft University in the Netherlands. I am an engineer and did that for many years. Product development especially.

I stopped working 6 years ago when I moved with my husband and two sons to Panama, we moved there as diplomats so I quit my job. I picked up my childhood passion of painting and drawing which was beautiful and inspiring.

Photographs from Renée '89 during her time at Kensington School

Before we finish, please tell us more about your painting and where we can look at your work.

I hope to continue it, I have no intention to return to the rat race. What's interesting is the seeds for it were really planted at Kensington.

I remember I took O Level art and I remember Mr Martin really well. I recall his lessons quite vividly and I still hear his voice “don't be scared to use light colours and dark colours and contrast!” I still hear that sometimes when I am painting!! That's Mr Martin speaking to me.

I have a website and social media pages, I will share them with you so you can see what type of pieces and work I have been creating.

Renée's Website