It’s the girls educated at Marlborough College who hear the pillow talk of powerful men

While his own Cabinet members have derided the influence of Eton-educated politicians in David Cameron’s government, when it comes to women it is those education at Marlborough College, here in Wiltshire, who hear the pillow talk of powerful men.

So says Victoria Lambert in a feature article in today’s Daily Telegraph, in which she writes:  “When you look through the alumnae of Marlborough College, the Wiltshire boarding school, a pattern soon becomes clear.

“Among the old boys of this 170-year-old school, founded for the sons of the clergy, can be found the expected botanists, bishops and back-bench MPs.

“But among the girls who have attended Marlborough, the first major independent school to go co-ed, starting with its 1968 sixth form – there is a more fascinating trend.

“For here, the brightest and best are listed remarkably often next to the words ‘wife of’.”

The most famous she lists is, of course, the Duchess of Cambridge, “wife of” our future king, and then adds Samantha Cameron, “wife of” the Prime Minister, followed by Frances Osborne, “wife of” the Chancellor.

Sally Bercow, “wife of” the House of Commons Speaker comes next along with Diana Fox, “wife of” the Governor of the Bank of England.

“If Eton is often referred to – sometimes critically – as alma mater of our leading politicians and power brokers, it seems that in Marlborough College, there exists a second, potentially just as influential, seed bed:  one which grows alpha consorts,” insists Victoria.

“Remarkable, isn’t it, that one country boarding school – which turns out only 80 girls a year from its sixth form – should have educated so many pillow-talkers to the great and good? “

And she quotes Jonathan Leigh, Marlborough College’s master, saying: “It is a unique situation of which we’re quietly proud – a rather happy coalescence has led to this group of able and powerful, supportive women.”

And the power women list doesn’t end there.  “Its reach of influence stretches across the internet, fashion, the BBC and Hollywood,” Victoria reveals.

“That is through old girls Amanda Rosenberg (dating Google founder Sergey Brin);  Amanda Harlech (former wife of Lord Harlech, and muse to Karl Lagerfeld);  Elizabeth Ann Clough (long-term partner of Jeremy Paxman); and Georgina Chapman, “wife of” Oscar-winning producer Harvey Weinstein.

So does the curriculum include husband-hunting and salon-hosting?  Is it a school for social climbers?  Or is it simply the case that matron adds testosterone to the girls’ water supply?

“A female Old Marlburian laughs at all my theories, calling it “a great school for either gender — it sets you up for the world.”