When Jesse met Sally

When the Class of 2012 parted ways after their Valedictory Dinner, little did they know that many would reunite at the wedding of two of their classmates.

In March 2022, former School Captain Jesse Jackson (Frew, 2012) and fellow student Sally Ayres (Millward, 2012) tied the knot at Sutton Grange Winery. 

But it seems they were the last to see it coming.

“At school, Sally and I never spoke, not once, we don’t think,” said Jesse. “It was only due to the miracle of 21st-century dating apps that we reconnected and started our relationship from there.”

Jesse knew Sally’s brother Andrew through the Drama Co-curricular at Girton, including the Senior School production. When Sally told Andrew she had connected with Jesse, Andrew insisted they go on a date. 

“After we got together, we had a lot of people come up to us and say that it made so much sense,” said Sally.

The rest is history, and if a 1-year old golden retriever and a kitten weren’t enough to seal the deal, Sally and Jesse are soon to be first-time parents with a baby boy due in March 2023. 

While they have little memory of each other during their years at Girton, they have fond memories of the teachers who helped shaped the people they are today. 

Sally credits Ms Leonie Lister for inspiring her to take up Design and Technology in Year 9.

“She had such great dedication to her subject and her students and really pushed them to achieve their best,” said Sally. As a result, Sally achieved an almost perfect score in Year 12 Design & Technology of 49.

She completed a bachelor's degree in Fashion at the Whitehouse Institute of Design and is now a Store Manager and Mentor at Lorna Jane.

Jesse studied Theatre Studies, Drama, Media, English, Further Maths and Biology. He is now a certified real estate agent, and has a bachelor's degree in business, majoring in entrepreneurship. He is flexing his adventurous spirit by exploring career options in a range of industries.

“I have worked as a dishwasher, waiter, property manager, real estate assistant, bartender, bowling alley attendant, retail assistant, warehouse member, camp counsellor, boat driver, swimming instructor, lifeguard, and currently, I am working as a cardiac technician,” he said.

Jesse says time spent with teachers such as Ms Joanne Christie, Ms Lenore Marshall and Mrs Jacinta Jackson in both class and productions over the course of his Senior School journey, influenced his work ethic, his work standards, and his willingness to try new things.

“I'm probably not done. I never knew what I wanted to do or what I was going to be,” said Jesse. “I still don't. I married a girl from school I never once spoke to. Anything can happen.”