Tony Fernandes CEO Blog

Many people ask me what it was like going to the UK at the age of 12. What was English public school like? Well here goes.

It was very strange arriving in Epsom. I knew no one in a school where the majority were English boys and the weather was bitingly cold.

The houses they put us in were sparse. There were 12 boys to a dormitory and we slept on beds worse than prison bunks.

Cold showers were common and we became fresh meat for for prefects who loved to pick on first year students.

But it was hell for me, the gawky newbie, only for a week as I quickly made it my home. I spent a wonderful five years there and my closest friends are still those from Epsom. There is something special about going to boarding school which lets bond with people who become lifelong friends. I suppose it’s the fact that you had to eat, learn play and sleep together.

I was thrilled that so many of my Epsom mates turned up at the AirAsia X Inagural flight party in London especially my two best friends, Roddy Williams and Charlie Hunt.

Good ‘ole Roddy and Charlie and I were all residents of Holman House, the furthest away from the school’s main building. In the school grounds, we had our share of fun and mischief; on the whole harmless stuff but such schoolboy exploits are best filed away in the memory bank.

Roddy has become a master brewer. His four-year degree and I suspect, more importantly, all those trips to the pub, paid off. He now runs a brewery in Cold Habour, Melbourne. Roddy came all the way from Australia on AirAsia X with a bottle of specially made beer to commemorate our maiden voyage. That is what friendship is after 32 years.

Charlie, who now lives in Wales used to go watch planes with me at Heathrow airport, on top of carpark 5. I used to tell him that I wanted to own an airline. I won't tell you his reply hahaha. I love planes and the trip to Heathrow on the green line always gave me a warm feeling as it meant I was heading home.

I had five great years in Epsom and now I'm the governor of the school. Many of the masters who taught me are still there.

Epsom wasn't just where I learned the textbook truths of maths, science and history but so much more values that have shaped my beliefs.

Despite being a different colour and different nationality it taught me that you earned your rewards by merit. I was captain of the hockey team, head of house and college prefect. I guess I was good at sport and it made a difference. It's hard to imagine me being good at sport, I know.

At Epsom education is not just about getting 15As in exams it was about meeting and communicationg with people. It taught me ambition, humility and leadership. It taught me that sport and creativity are crucial to a successful lifeBut the most important lesson I learned was to value friends and that friends are forever. You can't buy loyalty and friendship. You earn it.