‘Compassion Is Essential’: Meet The Ex-Military Nurse Turned Leading Headmistress

Joanna Fox, headmistress of Harrogate Ladies’ College, will march in London’s Remembrance Parade this month. As well as being the daughter of one of 212 Fijians who enlisted in the British Army, Fox served on the front lines in the first Gulf War as a nursing officer. Sam Finn, digital content executive at Harrogate Ladies’ College, tells her story – from her childhood, to her time in the army, to now leading one of Yorkshire’s top independent schools.

Meet The Ex-Military Nurse Turned Leading UK Headmistress

In 1961, 212 Fijian men and women embarked on a journey halfway across the world to enlist in the British Army, making a significant contribution to the Crown and to Fiji’s history. Among the 212 loyal Fijians was Fox’s father, Jonasa Jang. ‘My father didn’t want to tell his own father that he had enlisted, because he thought he’d be angry with him and refuse him permission to go,’ says Fox. ‘When the names were announced on the radio, my grandfather heard my father’s name being read out and actually chased him down the road with a cleaver.’

Jang’s decision to enlist shaped not only his life, but Fox’s, too. Born into a military family, she moved often and grew up in a community where integrity, camaraderie and service were hallmarks of everyday life. ‘When I was 16, my father was in hospital for a routine operation at the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital in Woolwich,’ Fox remembers. ‘I visited my dad and began talking to a staff nurse on the ward. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a military nurse; the environment felt so familiar and the role had real purpose.’ At 18, Fox followed in her father’s footsteps to join the British Army and qualified as a staff nurse before being commissioned as a nursing officer in 1989.

Fox’s career took her to the front line, serving in the resuscitation and pre-op department in the first Gulf War. ‘It was a sobering experience, but it was where our training and values really came together,’ she says. ‘Integrity, loyalty, commitment and service’ were values instilled in her by the military. Nursing added another layer: pastoral care, empathy and compassion.

This month, Fox will march in London’s Remembrance Day Parade. ‘It will be a very emotional and proud moment for me,’ shares Fox. ‘It is a significant honour for anyone who has served to be asked to take part in something like this. My dad passed away a year ago, so to have the opportunity to represent him and the 212 on such an important day for military families everywhere feels very special.’

Joanna Fox, photographed during the first Gulf War.

The Journey From Nursing To Education

As Fox reflects on her journey from being born into a military family, to serving in the Armed Forces herself, to becoming a leading headmistress, one theme shines through: service. Service to others, to her community and to a greater cause – whether that be in a hospital ward or a school. For Fox, her journey from military nursing to heading up a school felt like a very natural transition. ‘In both roles, you spend all day every day with people, so teamwork, tolerance and compassion for one another are essential. These values are also the foundation for ensuring pupils flourish as individuals whilst having a deep regard for one another.’

Inclusion at Harrogate Ladies’ College feels ‘natural’ to Fox. ‘We want staff and pupils to be their authentic selves, confident and secure in who they are,’ she explains. ‘For pupils to succeed academically or in cocurricular life, they must feel safe and supported.’ As the college prepares to extend its coeducational provision and change its name to Duchy College in 2026, Joanna’s military background and values have helped her lead through what has been a significant evolution for the community. ‘As in the military, you need to be bold and brave when making significant decisions, but also sensitive,’ she says. ‘Throughout its history, Harrogate Ladies’ College has always been forward-thinking, and this is the next step in its evolution.’