Charles Hamshar
Charles Hamshar, now 32, has built a successful career that he never imagined for himself when leaving school. After attending Bruern Abbey and Bryanston, he discovered his path wasn’t in the traditional city careers he once thought were the only routes to success. Instead, he found his strengths in a field where his character and verbal abilities shine. His journey from a seven-year-old student at Bruern to a professional at Sotheby’s exemplifies how the right educational foundation can lead to unexpected and fulfilling career paths.
Early Days at Bruern
I started at Bruern when I was seven years old. It was my parents who really liked the school – I was dyslexic, but I don’t think they even knew that at the time. They just really liked Bruern and felt it would be a safe place for me to be.
The school was very small when I joined – only about 20-25 people in the whole school. It felt intimate, almost like a family. Then Mr. Banbury joined when I was there – he was quite young then, maybe 21 or 22, and is now my godfather. I still speak to him almost every other day.
A Different Approach to Learning
What made Bruern special was its different approach to learning compared to other schools. I found it really hard to concentrate in any school I went to, even at Bruern, but there was a lot more leniency there and a completely different teaching philosophy.
Instead of “here’s a textbook, get through it,” the approach was much more visual, which worked better for me. Back then, Bruern wasn’t as results-driven as schools are now. It was more about giving us good food, somewhere to go chill outside, and a place to just grow up. It was a really nice environment to develop in.
The Sense of Family
The sense of family there was really important. I think that’s what made the biggest difference – it just felt like we belonged. For someone with dyslexia or ADHD, who can feel “all over the shop” unless you’ve got a real passion for something, that sense of belonging was crucial.
Life After Bruern
After Bruern, I went to Bryanston which was amazing. I loved it and wish I could have stayed longer. When I left school, I didn’t know what to do with my life. I always thought the only way you could make money was to go into the city, be a lawyer, or do something similar. But you really don’t need to follow those traditional paths – you can just be good at whatever you’re doing, as long as you do it well enough.
I definitely didn’t think I’d be where I am today when I was leaving school, which is actually a good thing. I’ve been in the same career for about 12-13 years now, and I genuinely love it. My work allows me to use my strengths – my character and verbal abilities – rather than focusing on the areas I find challenging, like typing or spelling.
Looking Back
Looking back at my time at Bruern, I realise it gave me the foundation I needed to find my own path. When you have dyslexia or ADHD, conventional education often doesn’t work for you. What Bruern provided wasn’t just academic support, but a place where I could develop confidence in my own abilities and discover my strengths.
The school has certainly changed since my day, but the core philosophy of providing a supportive, family-like environment for boys who learn differently remains the same. That approach makes all the difference for children who might otherwise struggle in a traditional educational setting.