7 minute read
OCs: In Their Own Words
IN THEIR OWN WORDS OC s :
MICHAEL JECKS (OC 1972 – 1979)
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When I left Caterham, I went to City University to study Actuarial Science. At the time I didn’t know that the definition of an actuary was “someone who finds accountancy too Dartmoor. The moors are a constant inspiration, and my morning walks help me think up new scenes and plots, although much of my work is spent researching actual events, crimes and court records. Writing is a strange, contemplative occupation – and a lonely one. However it does have benefits. I have been fortunate to make many friends in the Crime Writers’ Association and Detection Club – especially with experts such as forensic pathologists who can give insights into the more efficient methods of killing people, or the less pleasant aspects of decomposition. The conversations over dinner
exciting”.
Soon I changed direction and moved into the computer industry, working mainly in office automation and information technologies. The recession of the early 1990s had a devastating impact on the industry, and in 1994 I decided to take a gamble: I had been writing for pleasure for some years, and I took time off to see if I could finish a novel.
My first story, The Last Templar, was published in 1995, and launched my Templar medieval crime series, which now numbers some 32 books. I’ve also written a trilogy of the Hundred Years War, a modern day spy thriller, a new Tudor series, and collaborated on ten other novels – about 50 books in total, with Headline, HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster and other publishers.
My early books were all set in Devon, and in 1998 my wife and I decided to move to can be enormously interesting, if sometimes appetite-reducing, and we do occasionally get strange looks when chatting on the train...
As Terry Pratchett used to say, it has the advantage of being “An indoor job with no heavy lifting”.
His latest novel ‘Pilgrim’s War’ has received rave reviews such as Lee Child’s: “An instant classic British Spy novel – mature, thoughtful, and intelligent… but also raw enough for our modern time. Highly recommended.”
BEN ELLINGER (OC 1995 – 2002)
By way of update, Andrea and I moved to the USA just over 12 months ago when I was re-posted by Swires from Mainland China.
We spent three years in China and adored our time there – Andrea took full advantage and became quite fluent in Mandarin, I got by! In the USA, I am a Director of a local Aerospace Company in North Carolina (a subsidiary of HAECO Group which Swires has a majority shareholding in). Andrea is flourishing: she recently signed with a North American Acting Agency out of Atlanta (fingers crossed for that HBO series before long!), she is co-writing a film script (my retirement) and has recently re-started drawing illustrations, collaborating on a number of creative projects (hard to keep up!).
PETER NEAVES (OC 1975 – 1980)
I came to Caterham School in September of 1975, as a First Year. It was so exciting to be independent at 11 years of age! Or at least it felt like it. I was an army kid, my father being an officer in the RAMC, so I had to travel all over the world to get home – quite an adventure for a youngster.
In 1977 I moved up to Main School and lived at Beech Hanger (which I believe is now the female boarding house). These were the years when it was boys only of course. I left Caterham in December 1980 as my parents were posted to Hong Kong and I chose to live there full time. I’m glad I did – my schooling suffered, of that there is no doubt, but I learnt many other aspects of life. I returned to the UK in 1982 when we were posted to Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire and from there moved to Burnley in Lancashire in 1984. I started nurse training in January 1985, qualifying as a Registered General Nurse three years later and in October 1990 took another career path and joined the Lancashire Constabulary as a Crime Scene Investigator.
I was married in 1988 to Gill, another nurse with whom I trained. We had two lovely children; Adam, born in 1992, and Jessica, born in 1994. Unfortunately, as is all too common these days, my marriage broke down. Shortly thereafter, my first girlfriend, Katie, who I met in Hong Kong in 1980, got in touch. At the time we first met I was 16 and she was 15.
We met up again in 2011 when she came from her native Australia to visit me in the UK. The following year I moved to Perth to commence a new life with Katie and started work as a Mediation Officer for the Victim-offender Mediation Unit, here in Perth.
I also act and have had parts in numerous theatre productions as well as in TV and film.
I cannot believe it has been so long since I last walked down Harestone Valley Road to the station to start my journey to catch my flight to Hong Kong!
So much has happened and so much has changed! But I owe a lot of who I am to my days at Caterham. It was there that the urge to constantly better oneself, while caring for others, was instilled in me. I will be forever grateful for my years there!!
JULIANNE STEWART (NÉE COLVILL) (OC 1994 – 2001)
I really enjoy receiving the Omnia magazine and other school and Old Cats news.
By way of update, at the moment, I am taking a career break from my teaching career in order to look after my children (Camilla is four in October and Harry is two in November). I qualified as a lawyer in the City back in 2008, and after practising for three years, I decided to pursue a career in teaching. A year as a teaching assistant in a London prep school confirmed my passion for teaching and I went on to do a PGCE at Kingston University (2013 – 14). My daughter was born in October 2014, so I deferred the start of my NQT year to September 2015. I joined Ibstock Place School as a Year 3 teacher and was there for 3 years (during which I had my son Harry in November 2016) – my employment officially finishes at the end of this month. I adore teaching but want to spend more time with my own children whilst they are still so young. I will certainly be going back into teaching in the not too distant future!
YASUHIRO FUJIO (OC 2003 – 2004)
I have been receiving the Caterham school magazine and reading them reminds me of good old days at Caterham. I cannot believe it has been 15 years since I was there.
After leaving Caterham School I went to University of Bath and graduated from American University of Paris with a degree in BS Business Admin. After that I changed my career to become a chef, specialised in French cuisine and since then I have been working in France and in Japan. In May in 2018 I participated in the biggest international cooking competition for chefs under 30 years old and I won the world champion title among more than 3,000 participants.
I know my career isn’t quite the typical one for a Caterham graduate but I thought it would be interesting to share. Also I wanted to thank you because I would not be here if I didn’t spend time in Caterham. Congratulations to Yasu for winning the ‘San Pellegrino Young Chef 2018’ award.
LORNA COOK (OC 2012 – 2014)
After Caterham, I did a Foundation course at University of the Arts in London.
It was during this year that I found my interest in Costume. I have just finished my degree in Costume for Performance with a 2:1 and have been lucky enough to have worked on many exciting projects, including jobs for the National Theatre, Odeon Cinema and most recently wardrobe assistant for a new Ikea advert. It is thanks to my art teacher who encouraged me to do a foundation course that I am doing what I do today. A special mention goes to Marilyn Kyle, Amelia Wallace and Charlotte Bell.
