A Life of Service: From Military Nurse to Principal of a Leading Independent School

As the daughter of one of 212 Fijians who enlisted in the British Army, Joanna Fox has a unique background which has taken her to the front line in the first Gulf War as a nursing officer, and then into a 20-year career in education.  She now leads one of Yorkshire’s top independent schools as they embark on a new co-educational era for 2026.

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 Joanna’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,” Joanna says with a smile.

“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!”

Jonasa’s decision to enlist in the 212 shaped not only his life, but Joanna’s, too. She was born into a military family which saw her move often and grow up in a community where integrity, camaraderie and service were hallmarks of everyday life.

As an 18-year-old, Joanna followed in her father’s footsteps, joining the British Army and qualifying as a staff nurse before being commissioned as a Nursing Officer in 1989.

“When I was 16, my father was in hospital for a routine operation at the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital in Woolwich,” Joanna said.

“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 as the environment felt so familiar and the role had real purpose.”

Joanna’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 said.

Joanna highlights “integrity, loyalty, commitment and service” are values the military instilled in her, while nursing added another layer: pastoral care, empathy and compassion.

As Joanna reflects on her journey starting out as the daughter of a Fijian soldier in the British Army, to serving in the Armed Forces herself as a nursing officer in the first Gulf War, and now leading Harrogate Ladies’ College (Duchy College) into its new co-ed era, 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.

This November, Joanna will march in London’s Remembrance Parade at Whitehall as she represents both her late father’s time in the 212 and her own time in the British Army.

“It will be a very emotional and proud moment for me,” she said.

“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.”

The journey from military nursing to education and leading a school might seem improbable to some but, to Joanna, it felt 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,” Joanna said.

The individuality and inclusion Joanna mentions are key elements of her tenure at the helm of Harrogate Ladies’ College, with the school’s community one of its greatest strengths.

“Inclusion here feels natural, not forced,” Joanna said.

“We want staff and pupils to be their authentic selves, confident and secure in who they are.

“For pupils to succeed academically or in co-curricular life, they must feel safe and supported.”

As Harrogate Ladies’ College embarks on its new era of extending its co-ed provision and changing its name to Duchy College, 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.”

From her father’s journey in the 212, to her own years of military service and leadership in education, Joanna embodies the very values she seeks to instil in her pupils: resilience, individuality and authenticity.

“Moving from nursing to education felt like a natural progression,” she reflects.

“Both are about caring for others and helping them develop.”