It only feels like yesterday that Ellen and I were stalking eachother's Instagram accounts and each being too nervous to reach out to the other to say, "Hey, we're about to work together everyday for a year."
Being your 24/25 travel subeditors has been a blast- from it being Ellen's second year of running the section and being a reigning travel champion at the Celebrating Success Awards and me not understanding InDesign for a solid month, to producing 11 spreads together, brainstorming and editing 100+ articles, staying in the office until 10pm, and being nominated for 3 awards.
Experiencing this role together has been the shared highlight of our extremely hectic year. We cannot thank you, the writers and the readers, enough for all of your hard work and support over the past year. It was so lovely to meet new faces every single week at our SMAs and see how you brought the travel articles to life, as well as having the chance to hear about all of your travel tales. You were all the driving force behind the travel section.
Of course, thank you so much to the senior team for supporting us every single step of the way. Thank you to Marina and Charlotte, our Heads of Section, for raking through our work every week to make sure it was as perfect as it could be, and for being the loveliest mentors. Thank you to Grace Boyle who literally held my hand through learning InDesign and PhotoShop and never complained when I'd wail "Graaaaceeeee?" across the office, as well as the wider senior team who had to fill in for Grace whenever she was darting around campus and I was like a lost puppy.
Thank you especially to Lucy Bower, our incredible SMO and Editor-in-Chief. Your guidance and light was so central throughout this entire journey and we both thank you so much for allowing us the opportunity to take on the roles as travel subeditors- and also for being such a great platonic matchmaker, because I know for a fact that Ellen and I are probably going to be sat still chattering away in a nursing home together someday. Being SMO this year has been no easy feat, yet you handled every single trial and tribulation with the greatest spirit and heart, and you were a role model to both of us.
I count my lucky stars everyday that Ellen was my co-subeditor. Not only did she pour her whole heart into the section alongside all of her final year exams, but also alongside editing the MFL Flying Solo magazine. You are always a complete and utter joy to be around, have the sweetest heart and character, and I can't remember the last time I clicked with someone so easily. Thank God that our hometowns are so close together so that I can come and mither you whenever I want. You're the coolest.
I cannot wait to see how the section develops over the course of the next year and how it continues to grow. In the meantime, you can find Ellen and I at Beamish. Travel (and Beamish) forevs.
Lots of love from Eldog and Jophie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx