ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É

I applied for ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É in 1969, in part because I was advised that ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É might be more flexible with me if I didn't hit the top grades. I was a very mediocre student and was running round as a 3rd year VIth and even then only got in on clearing in 1970. I was from Bodelwyddan and it was a handy 30 mile trip.

I resided in Neuadd Reichel and Reichel Annexe during my 3 year degree stay and in ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É for my PGCE year. My degree subject was History backed up with Economics, and I ended up with a 2:2 in 1973. Despite my indifferent student skills, I loved ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É and did a PGCE in History & English in 1973-4.

Student life in ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É was brilliant. I was a shy 18 year old but ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É transformed me. I joined the UCNW Football Club and the Forecast Magazine, and played football for the various College teams for 4 years. An avid record collector, I was able to become a DJ in College, eventually a regular fixture on this front. Everyone was brilliant with me in the University and I left the College ready to take on the world in 1974.

In 1974 I became a teacher at Grove Park School in Wrexham and was able to put my Historical and Economics skills to good use professionally. I had excellent results there and was appointed to Yale VIth Form College in 1980 as a History & Economics lecturer. Here, my History teaching and studying blossomed and my 8 year stint was a great experience.

Unlike many teachers, I had alternative strings to my bow, and I developed the DJ side of my life as well as my interaction with Music generally. In 1977, I opened a small Record shop - a hobby shop - in Wrexham. The next decade was one of immense joy for me, retail growth and teaching success, with a growing family on top. In 1988 I was confronted with real choices and I opted to leave teaching (ish) and enter retail full time. Shops followed in other towns. 

In 1995, I opted to uptake an MA Course in US History at Keele University and passed with flying colours 2 years later. Shortly after that I began researching my book on US diplomatic History (1775-1850), a veritable marathon task. Meanwhile I navigated multiple changes in my private life, eventually launching my last retail venture in 2006, still in Wrexham. I still keep my hand in with Record Fairs and occasional markets, have been known to still do some occasional teaching and, in 2020, I published my book on Kindle.

I volunteer to speak at Sixth Form, FE and University sessions covering a range of subjects, using my  breadth of experience to guide aspiring students. When an appeal went out from the Welsh Senedd for role models in the Entrepreneurial world, I put my name forward. I was used as a lead deliverer of the (then) ‘Dynamo’ message of encouraging youngsters to consider Entrepreneurship in their career path. I was involved in this for over 20 years (latterly within the ‘Big Ideas’ set up). Whilst students are encouraged to study any number of courses in their school life, relatively few are exposed to the life augmenting Entrepreneurial ideas that can be so enriching for the nation’s youngsters.

My life has been an example of proactive development, skill-set building and positivity. This has allowed me to immerse myself in different experiences, different worlds, and the enrichment thereof has allowed me to have a productive and enjoyable life.