INTERVIEW: OA JOHN KEAY (B60))
locations: from the main school building and from aumit hill when St Bede’s House was relocated. I In November 2020, we were was not particularly interested in delighted to interview acclaimed world affairs whilst at Ampleforth. OA historian John Keay However, I do remember being drawn (B60) and discuss his time at into history because of the great Ampleforth, his journey beyond teaching I experienced. I was taught the Valley and even his love of classes by Fr Hugh Aveling, Tony trout fishing. The conversation Davidson, and Thomas Charleswas particularly poignant for the Edwards, all of whom I found most interviewer, Bron Bury (former inspiring. I also found the Library Ampleforth Society and to be a fantastic resource. In my Marketing Coordinator), who last two years at Ampleforth, I was inspired to study History at would certainly say I experienced an university after reading John’s intellectual awakening which was very 1991 publication, The Honourable much stimulated by my education in Company: A History of the English the Valley. East India Company. I do have some memories of playing Q. Please tell us about your rugby and cricket at Ampleforth, memories of SHAC. Were though I was not particularly there any particular moments distinguished in either. Another which sparked your interest in vivid memory I have from this modern history? time is when it was announced that National Service was to be I studied at Ampleforth between abolished. The announcement came 1955 and 1960, during which I during assembly one morning and I experienced Ampleforth from two clearly remember the applause and
cheers which immediately echoed around the big passage and along the school’s corridors. I was also fortunate to be joined at Magdalen College by my core nucleus of friends from Ampleforth, many of whom I remain close with to this day. Q. I understand that it was during a fishing trip to Kashmir in 1965 when you initially became interested in Far Eastern affairs. What else drew you towards writing about India and the Far East? During my time at Ampleforth and Oxford, I had little knowledge of India or the Far East, nor any family connections with the region. However, after university, I had the opportunity to go on a fishing trip to Kashmir; I first got into fishing when at Ampleforth. I returned to Kashmir the following year after ‘dropping out’ of my job in advertising and stayed in the region
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