Naomi meets her prince — and interviews him
HASMONEAN HIGH pupil Naomi Zeidman was “gobsmacked” when she got the chance to interview Prince Edward.
The opportunity arose when Naomi, 15, represented Barnet Youth Radio at a real tennis event hosted by Middlesex University. The prince was competing as part of his year-long mission to play on every real tennis court worldwide to raise funds for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Naomi is manager of the radio station — a venture supported by the Duke of Edinburgh Award — and was invited to interview the players and coaches, the royal included.
“I wasn’t expecting to get to talk to him because his security was so tight,” she told the JC. But then the prince spotted her doing interviews and came over.
Unprepared, she was
“a bit disappointed” by her initial reaction. “So when he was taking a break from the court, I went over to him and asked if I could interview him about real tennis and the event.”
Naomi became involved in Barnet Youth Radio almost by accident when a sports project she wanted to do as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award was oversubscribed.
“It was presented to me as the second option. I thought that radio sounds interesting and I should give it a go. I’ve been doing it now for five years.”
Working at the station has inspired her to pursue a broadcasting career after university. “It has given be so much confidence.”
Naomi has interviewed council and community leaders for the station and also produced podcasts on Brexit.
“My peers are always really interested in me being Jewish. They ask me lots of questions about our laws and customs. They are very respectful. When we had our Christmas party with pizza, they got me a kosher one.”