A teenager who takes pride in representing military youngsters and families has been chosen to be the Junior Chieftain at this year’s Forres Highland Games.

Chloe Branley-Wilde, who attends Forres Academy was nominated by the school’s headteacher Jan Sinclair.

Chloe lives in Kinloss with her mum Victoria, dad Alexander and little brother, four-year-old Kash and has a 19-year-old sister who lives away from home.

Speaking about why Chloe was chosen, headteacher of Forres Academy, Jan Sinclair said: “Chloe was chosen as she has shown herself to be an amazing student in her journey through our school so far. She is a dedicated student who balances managing her own studies with offering support and doing work for others - in particular she has been a great ambassador for military young people in the school. She epitomises our school values of being Inclusive, Kind and Determined and was a natural choice for us.”

Chloe who is now in S6 at the school and is studying higher philosophy, psychology, sociology, drama and moder studies said she was delighted to be chosen.

“I am really looking forward to the day and when I was asked, I went online to look at what it meant. I am excited to meet knew people on the day but also see familiar faces.”

Chloe is extremely passionate about representing other military children.

She goes to the Scottish Youth Parliament where she advocates for military children and also works with Forces Children Scotland and attends different conferences to ensure that children in military families have a voice.

“It’s really important to me that we are heard,” said Chloe, “I found my transition moving from England to Scotland very difficult. Often people think of the person who has been deployed, but it can be a difficult time for the family left behind. Routines change, you often have one parent now having to do the job of two parents, I worry about my siblings. It’s really important to me that there is a place that young people like me can go to and know they are not on their own.”

As well as her work on behalf of military children, Chloe is also a forward for Highland Rugby Club, works in the Captain’s Table and Captain’s Parlour in Findhorn, is on the Debating Society and the Mentors and Violence Protection programme in school and acts as a Wellbeing Ambassador.

When she finishes at Forres Academy she hopes to go to university and eventually become an RMPS teacher.

“I think it’s important to learn about other people and cultures and understand how people lives their lives and about diversity. I think teaching that will be really good.”

Speaking about her experience of school and Forres, she added: “I have had a great experience at Forres Academy. We have a good community here and it’s very welcoming. It’s the same for the town, it’s a really safe community.”

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