Class of 1994
Counselling
Country: England
Job:
Writer & Musician
IF YOU STUDIED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME AT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES, DID YOU GO ON TO POSTGRADAUTE STUDY?
Yes, York St John University
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
In 1990 I looked at several Universities. I remember going to Manchester University and it seemed vast. York St John was much smaller. It had the gorgeous quad which was similar to the school I had been to, so I felt at home straight away. I like the small, communal vibe it had. I studied English Literature and Drama. It started my passion for books.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YSJ TO SOMEONE?
I was very lucky to study at YSJU in the early 1990s. There was a huge amount of talent at the University, great teaching staff and it was before the days of large student debt. It was also in the days before smartphones and we had a pretty good soundtrack, too. For me it was a creative apprenticeship – much of what I have done in the years since (writing, music, storytelling journalism) started in those years. I have studied at the University several times – most recently gaining an M.A. in Creative Writing in 2013.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
In 1990 I looked at several Universities. I remember going to Manchester University and it seemed vast. York St John was much smaller. It had the gorgeous quad which was similar to the school I had been to, so I felt at home straight away. I like the small, communal vibe it had. I studied English Literature and Drama. It started my passion for books.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
I worked in Hull as a youth and community worker for some years, and wrote freelance journalism. I ran York Literature Festival from 2008 to 2016 – York St John were (and are) a sponsor. I’ve written a number of books, including three collections of poetry. I’ve been storyteller in residence at Dallowgill Centre in North Yorkshire for the last four years. I wrote regularly for York Calling. My book on the early years of The Pretenders (rock band) is out autumn 2026.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC COURSE?
I had been in a few school plays and played Falstaff when I was 17. Acting was always an interest. But when I started at YSJU I felt my strength was in English, so I switched to that as my major. It opened up the world of books.
WHAT WERE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR COURSE?
Some fantastic lecturers, some of whom are no longer with us – Roger Clark was tremendous. Judy Giles. Tom Spencer was wonderful in drama. I did my first creative writing course as well. I was involved with the drama society and the Christian Union. I went to Edinburgh with a couple of student productions
HOW DID STUDYING AT YSJ HELP IN YOUR CAREER SEARCH/SUCCESS/CURRENT ROLE?
Everything I have done in my writing, journalism, storytelling and music I can trace back to 1990 to 1994. It was foundational. When I found out there was a recording studio on Haxby Road I booked in to make a demo of songs in 1991. I played guitar in a pub on Gillygate, wrote my first bits of arts journalism for a local paper (and the college magazines). I watched lots of films, read boos and to poetry readings. As I say, I was very, very fortunate to be there at that time
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
My advice would be ‘go for it’. Throw yourself into the opportunities you have to learn and study. Meet people! Talk! Discuss ideas! Read books (YSJU has a great library). Go to talks and readings. Just invest in your time as much as you can. It’s a precious time. Make the most of it.