100 Voices

I remember life at Glyn with vivid humour, shaped by a range of memorable traditions and characters. Several of my teachers left a lasting impression on me, particularly those in the English and PE departments. They combined high expectations with strong personalities and a genuine commitment to helping their students succeed, which made their influence especially powerful.

Some of my standout memories include the shared laughter of early science lessons and an unforgettable cricket match against an Australian touring side. My time at Glyn helped me develop resilience, leadership, and a strong sense of humour — qualities that went on to shape my career as an officer in the British Army.

My advice to current students would be to embrace everything the school has to offer beyond academic qualifications. Get involved in extracurricular activities, make the most of trips, and build friendships widely — these experiences are just as important as exam results and are what you will remember long after you leave.

I remember my time at Glyn as a period defined by friendship and learning. I look back especially fondly on my German teacher, David “Sid” James, whose lessons were memorable thanks to his strict but good‑humoured approach. One standout moment for me was being selected for the under‑12 football team, which remains a particularly proud memory.

My achievements at Glyn, especially in Maths and English, played an important role in shaping my future. They gave me the opportunity to join the Metropolitan Police Cadets, which went on to lead to a 30‑year career in policing. After leaving the police, I ran my own gardening business and now serve as Honorary Secretary of The Old Glynians’ Association.

My advice to current students would be to follow the school motto and take it seriously. What I hope Glyn never loses is its strong emphasis on teaching good behaviour alongside academic achievement.

I remember my school days at Glyn as a time of brilliant teachers and a great deal of fun. One of my proudest moments was being made a Prefect, which remains a highlight of my time there. My years at Glyn shaped me enormously and provided the strong foundation that enabled me to go on to study at Cambridge University.

My advice to current students would be to enjoy these years, which I believe are among the best days of your life. I very much hope that Glyn never loses its pride in achievement, in all its forms.

After leaving Glyn, I went on to enjoy a successful business career as a director and business owner. I also spent a short time working as a university lecturer before later becoming a consultant and mentor in research and marketing. In this role, I have worked with businesses across the UK, Australia and the USA.

I remember my time at Glyn as being shaped above all by football and by a growing love of languages, particularly Russian. My German lessons were especially influential, as they opened up a lasting appreciation of language and culture, and also led to memorable trips into London to see Brecht plays performed. One moment that has always stayed with me is the winter of 1963, when heavy snow brought football training to a complete standstill.

My years at Glyn played a significant role in shaping who I became. They encouraged a lifelong enjoyment of learning languages and gave me many opportunities to play sport, including cricket and football, both during my time at school and later with the Glyn Old Boys. My advice to current students would be to get involved in everything the school has to offer. I very much hope that Glyn never loses its strong traditions and its emphasis on sport.

After leaving Glyn, I went on to build a long and highly international career in educational publishing. I worked with organisations including Harrap, the Open University, Longman, Cassell and ACCA, taking me to Nigeria, the Far East, the Arab world, Africa and the Caribbean. Later, I became an Ofsted lay inspector and worked as an education consultant in a wide range of countries, including Nepal, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Vietnam, the Maldives, Kosovo, Georgia and Turkmenistan

I spent seven and a half years at Glyn School, and it had an enormous influence on who I am. My time there fell into two very different phases. From 1963 to 1968, my First to Fifth Years were highly traditional and disciplined, with a strong focus on hard work and preparing for O-Levels. In the Sixth Form, up to my departure in January 1971, we were treated as young men and encouraged to think seriously about the future, particularly Oxbridge. Although I never made it there, this period released a burst of creativity in me.

Two teachers had a particularly strong influence on me: Gus Dorling, my History teacher, whose intellectual depth and understanding of world events were exceptional, and Bert Inchcomb, whose sensitive approach to teaching French language and culture left a lasting impression. One of my proudest moments at school was winning the Clarke Prize essay competition in 1969.

Looking back, Glyn shaped my character deeply. Beneath my adult exterior, I remain a “Glyn boy”: serious, hardworking, and conscientious. My advice to current students is to follow the rules, work hard, manage time well, and make space for creativity, because adult life is demanding and good preparation matters. What I hope is never lost from Glyn is its culture of disciplined effort combined with creative opportunity.

Since leaving school, my career has been very varied. I studied architecture in the 1970s but did not qualify, then moved into architectural history and journalism, publishing significant work during the 1980s. From then until my retirement in 2014, I worked in policy and project management roles in local government, most recently at Surrey County Council. I continue to work part-time in heritage conservation.

When I think back on my school days at Glyn, what stands out most is a strong ethos of discipline and hard work, alongside friendships and connections that have lasted well beyond school. I remember House music competitions, performing at concerts, the familiar characters and rituals of school life, demanding cross‑country runs, time spent in the Sixth Form Centre and Prefects’ room, and memorable productions such as Grease. Above all, I remember the teachers and education that helped set me on my path.

Several teachers had a lasting influence on me. Music teachers Mr Diamond and Mr Hamilton were instrumental in nurturing my musical talent during my teenage years, with Mr Hamilton introducing me to jazz funk and inspiring a lifelong passion for music. My English teacher, Mr Carnell, recognised and encouraged my writing ability, which ultimately led me into a career in journalism. I don’t have one single favourite memory — it’s the combination of all these experiences that defines my time at Glyn.

Looking back, my advice to current students would be to listen to their teachers, even when it doesn’t always seem relevant at the time. Make the most of extracurricular activities, because school is about far more than academic results, and becoming a rounded individual really matters in adult life. Above all, learn the value of focus and hard work, as these can amplify whatever natural talents you have.

After leaving Glyn, I studied a joint honours degree in Politics and Music at Keele University. I then began my career as a trainee reporter at the Epsom & Ewell Herald, which led to a long career in journalism. I spent 21 years at BBC News, progressing from online journalism to becoming a senior television news producer working on live programmes. In December 2022, I left the BBC and moved to Switzerland, where I now work as a global media relations manager for a large international company.

When I think about my school days at Glyn, I feel a deep sense of gratitude — both to my fellow students and to the teachers who supported and inspired me along the way. My time there gave me far more than an education; it shaped my values and outlook on life.

Several teachers left a profound impression on me. Mr Currie, the Deputy Head and my Geography teacher, quite literally saved my life when he pulled me out of the path of a speeding car moments before it crashed. I also owe a great deal to Mr Miles, Mr Coleman, and the other physical science teachers, who sparked my passion for science and encouraged me to think critically and curiously.

Glyn provided me with a rigorous academic foundation that strengthened my work ethic and sharpened my critical thinking. Through student government, sports, and group projects, I learned how to lead by example — setting standards, listening to others, and taking responsibility when things became challenging. These experiences taught me how to balance ambition with empathy and prepared me well for college and my later career.

My advice to current students is to see high school as a vital time of self‑discovery. Academic subjects can open doors to future career paths, while sports and clubs develop teamwork, resilience, and humility — qualities that matter far beyond the classroom.

Above all, I hope Glyn never loses its school spirit or its core values: integrity, kindness, and endeavour — doing the right thing, showing respect to everyone, and persevering even when things are difficult.

My clearest and most fondly remembered moment is always the last day of the Autumn term before Christmas. For weeks beforehand, each classroom kept a chalked countdown on the blackboard, updated daily. When it finally reached “1”, the atmosphere changed completely. After a couple of light periods, we were given a small bag of sweets, watched a film in the assembly hall — I remember The Cruel Sea in my final year — and were then allowed to go home early. That sense of anticipation and release has stayed with me ever since.

The rigid structure of school life ultimately shaped me by reinforcing the idea that taking the “road less travelled” was how I would succeed — and that proved to be true. My advice to current students would be to focus on what the school can offer rather than what it can’t, and to question everything.

After leaving Glyn, I studied Electronics at Southampton University before joining IBM as a junior programmer. I progressed to systems analyst while studying for a part‑time mathematics degree with the Open University. This led to a role as Manager of Commercial Systems at the BHP steelworks in Port Kembla, Australia. After four years, I left to set up a software company in Sydney and Melbourne, and later moved into consulting roles across both the public and private sectors. My work has spanned industries including travel, banking, steel production, futures markets, paralegal systems, and IT and infrastructure troubleshooting across the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Since retiring over twenty years ago, I have remained extremely active: I have written eight books, become an expert in early military aviation, and for the past eight years have worked with the British and Australian governments on restoring abandoned Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries in Iraq. In many ways, I am now busier than I ever was before retirement.

I remember my time at Glyn as one of the happiest periods of my life, defined by great friendships, plenty of sport, and an excellent education. Whether it was football, basketball, cricket, tennis, or cross country on Epsom Downs, there was always something going on. The teachers were real characters, each with their own quirks, which made school all the more memorable.

I look back especially fondly on Mr. Sageman, who stood out for his ability to make lessons both interesting and enjoyable.

There are so many moments that stay with me, but a few stand out: being selected for the first-year football team and going unbeaten all season, winning the five-a-side tournament at the Summer Fete, and discovering that I not only enjoyed Latin but was actually quite good at it.

Glyn played a pivotal role in shaping who I am. I arrived as a painfully shy boy, the first from my primary school to pass the 11+, but my time there gave me the confidence to realise I could match—and even surpass—others. That confidence ultimately led me to university and beyond, and I can honestly say I would not be the person I am today without Glyn.

After leaving school, I studied Economics at Sheffield University, qualified as a Chartered Accountant, and worked internationally, including time in Bermuda and London. I eventually settled in Canada, where I spent many years as a partner at PwC. In 2008, I co-founded the Canadian operations of FTI Consulting in Toronto, which has since grown into a national business. Looking back, passing the 11+ and later helping to build FTI Canada were two of the luckiest moments of my life.

My advice to current students is to make the most of every opportunity—immerse yourself in both your studies and extracurricular activities, try new things, step outside your comfort zone, and hold on to the friendships you build.

What I hope Glyn never loses is its unique balance between academic achievement and sport, and the sense that it is a truly special place—one that both pupils and teachers are proud, and fortunate, to be part of.

I remember my time at Glyn as a period filled with fond memories. I made some of my closest friends there, many of whom I still see regularly, and I look back on those years with real appreciation.

I particularly enjoyed Geography, thanks in large part to Mr Carter, who had a talent for making every topic engaging and interesting. His enthusiasm for the subject left a lasting impression on me.

Some of my favourite memories come from school trips, especially the visit to Nice and the Geography trip to Iceland. Those experiences stand out as highlights of my time at school.

My years at Glyn helped shape me through the high standards set by the teachers. They were firm but fair, with clear expectations, and always encouraged both the school and individual students to improve and aim higher.

After leaving Glyn, I went on to study Geography at university. Since graduating in 2017, I have worked in flood risk management, assessing present-day flood risks and helping to ensure that new developments do not increase the risk of flooding in the future.

My advice to current students is to get involved in as many extracurricular activities as you can. The skills and experiences you gain can be just as valuable as your academic results, and you may even discover a passion you didn’t know you had.

What I hope Glyn never loses is its strong sense of identity, symbolised by the blue and black blazers and the different coloured house ties—you can always recognise a Glyn student, and that sense of belonging is something special.