OS OBITUARIES
From Sevenoaks , Sandra attended the London School of Economics , eventually settling on a degree in Economic and Social History ( to which she referred almost as much as her needlework O-level ). Starting her career in marketing , she eventually found herself at Price Waterhouse , where she met Marc O ’ Brien , her future husband . Sandra spent many years at PW and then PwC , eventually becoming a director with a transatlantic team in London and Florida . She stepped down from PwC following the births of Phoebe in 1996 and Fergus in 1998 .
SANDRA O ’ BRIEN 1961-2023
Sandra O ’ Brien ( nee Thompson ) was born in Salisbury , Rhodesia ( now Harare , Zimbabwe ) on 16 September 1961 to Malcom and Sylvia Thompson . The paediatrician ’ s failure to check the positioning of her hip led to scoliosis and ongoing back problems that would impact the rest of her life .
The Thompsons came back from Zimbabwe following Rhodesia ’ s Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965 . They settled in Oxted , Surrey , and Sandra attended St Michael ’ s prep school . The family moved again in 1974 , this time to Monte Carlo , until 1975 . When the family returned to the UK , Sandra was a fluent French speaker – with , she always insisted , a very good accent !
Following a break to raise her family , Sandra found herself working in parliament as case worker for Sam Gyimah MP . She helped many , many constituents with cases ranging from housing issues to a military extraction from a Middle Eastern country ( arranged from the kitchen table ). With the turmoil of Brexit she left parliament and joined the Citizens Advice Bureau where her diligence , sharp intellect and lack of patience was put to good use serving people in and around Caterham .
In June 2020 , Sandra and Marc moved to Tunbridge Wells where they continued to enjoy all the town had to offer ( especially the restaurants and bars ).
Sandra died on 31 October 2023 following a very short illness . She was 62 . She is survived by her husband , Marc , and children Phoebe and Fergus .
Marc O ’ Brien
Sandra joined Sevenoaks as one of the first intake of boarding girls into the Sixth Form in 1977 . She loved her time at the school and made some lifelong friendships . She particularly enjoyed the regular reunions of that first intake of girls .
140 OLD SENNOCKIANS