One of the first girls ever allowed to attend former boys’ school Culford has been appointed to the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee.

One of the first girls ever allowed to attend former boys’ school Culford has been appointed to the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee.

The Treasury has announced former Virgin Money boss Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia is to join the committee which monitors and analyses risk to the UK economy and is ultimately answerable to parliament.

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Although born in the Midlands Dame Jayne-Anne was schooled at the Bury St Edmunds school whose other notable alumni include Tory MP Nick de Bois, former Waveney MP Bob Bizzard and sports commentator John Motson.

In 1972 Culford merged with sister school the East Anglian School for Girls and girls became Culfordians for the first time.

Dame Jayne-Anne will be joined by Banking Standards Board chairwoman Dame Colette Bowe on the committee and will replace incumbent external FPC members Richard Sharp and Martin Taylor, who are stepping down at the end of the first quarter and second quarter respectively.

Dame Jayne-Anne will take up her role in time for the FPC’s second quarter round of meetings.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said: “The Financial Policy Committee’s importance to the protection and resilience of our economy cannot be overstated, which is why we have some of the finest talent in finance on it.

“The insight and experience that both Dame Colette and Dame Jayne-Anne bring will be valuable assets to the committee’s vital work.”

Bank of England governor Mark Carney said: “As chair of the Banking Standards Board, Colette has led the way in developing and embedding better standards of conduct across the banking sector.

“Her experience in the private sector and handling some of the biggest regulatory challenges of our times will also be extremely valuable to the committee’s deliberations in the coming years.

“Jayne-Anne brings deep and relevant experience in retail banking and her successful business career.

“In her public policy she has championed the transformative impact of adopting new technologies and of greater diversity within the workforce of the financial services industry.”