A President’s thank you to the team

Charlotte Edwards

THREAD’s Spring ‘26 edition acted as a physical commemoration of DUCFS itself, launching during show week. Our brilliant 2026 president Charlotte Edwards wrote a momento to the team…

Serving as President of DUCFS 2026 has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life - an experience that has challenged me, inspired me, and rewarded me in ways I never could have imagined. It all started before I’d even arrived in Durham, I remember scrolling through the DUCFS instagram in absolute awe, and as surreal as it may sound, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t factor into my decision to choose Durham. I remember in my very first week, being at freshers fair with one goal: scouting out the DUCFS stall and getting involved in any way I could. From being an ambassador in first year, a partnerships director in second year, and now as President, it has shaped my university experience profoundly in the best possible way. DUCFS means more to me than I can put into words, and I will always be incredibly proud and deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of something so special. I am often asked what the best part of DUCFS is and my answer always remains the same: the people. I have been unbelievably lucky to work with such a phenomenal, talented, dedicated and most importantly, kind, group of individuals. To each and every member of the exec, without whom none of this would have been possible, there are not enough words to express how much I appreciate everything you have done. There is no small or easy role within DUCFS. Every single member of our team has worked tirelessly, whilst juggling intense academic workloads, demanding schedules and countless other commitments. No deadline balanced, plan reshuffled, hour of sleep sacrificed or single second given up has gone unnoticed; every contribution has shaped the success of the show.

I remember being taken aback by the sheer talent we saw during interviews, and feeling so excited about what such an exceptional team could achieve. To see that potential come together throughout the campaign and during the show itself has been nothing short of  spectacular.

I would also like to thank every single one of our incredible models who have worked tirelessly over the last few months to bring the show to life. This year has been particularly special, as for the first time, DUCFS has welcomed a completely new cohort of models, many of whom have never done anything like this before. Whilst it may appear to be Durham’s most glamorous job, the time and commitment they have poured into this has been truly admirable, and watching their growth has been nothing short of inspirational. When I stepped into this role, my hope was to foster a community defined by kindness, teamwork and inclusivity. Thanks to every exec member and model, I can confidently say this is exactly what we have achieved - a legacy I am deeply proud of. Without DUCFS, I would never have met so many of these remarkable individuals, many of whom I am now fortunate enough to call some of my closest friends. Thank you for all the laughter and fun along the way.

A special thanks must go to the outstandingly creative Augustus Jackson, the wonderful Amelia Gore, and Harvey Bell, who is nothing short of a genius. Without these three exceptional individuals, none of this would have been possible and I am deeply grateful for every single hour you have dedicated to this campaign. Through every crisis managed, moment of stress shared and hour of sleep lost, your support has been unwavering and I am so incredibly lucky to have had you by my side on this wild ride.

Finally, I would like to thank my incredible friends and family, particularly my wonderful parents, for being a constant source of support, reassurance and guidance throughout this journey.

Thank you for everything DUCFS, I am forever grateful.

Charlotte x