WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Donald Barrell

Sadly I wasn’t a pupil at Mill Hill, so my story at the school begins at the end of one career and became the start of the next!

I went to school at Watford Grammar and had a brilliant experience, we had plenty of encounters on the pitch with Mill Hill during my time there. I had joined the academy at Saracens when I was 13 and had stayed at the club throughout my school years, signing my first contract at 18. At the same time, I joined UCL to study Anthropology, if I was playing sport, I wanted to do something else that kept my mind alive on a different topic. It was tough balancing education, a career in sport and doing both full time… I like to be busy so can’t complain too much!

I had played age grade international rugby and during my time at Saracens, also spent a few years on the international 7s circuit, it was a great time and gave me a chance to travel and see the globe. In the 15s game, despite the myth of sport flying you across the world, the inside of a hotel, pitch and airport look the same despite the continent!

I was at Saracens during the shift from a club that jumped up and down the results table, to one that became (and is still) one of the best clubs in the world. There was a shift away from players as commodities, to people. Professional sport has a lot of glamour attached, but it is full of tough, dedicated people who continuously seek improvement and want to keep pushing forwards. As such, when others are still celebrating, they have already begun looking at how to do better next time. During this period, the club created a real ‘family.’ People were treated as individuals; parents, partners and kids were all taken on the journey. Performance was found in the person, not the system.

This ethos shaped much of my thinking and I still back that focus on an individual and their effort is more important than the outcome. We cannot always control the outcome, but we can control the effort we put into something; that generates more learning as a focus than anything else.

I joined Mill Hill School when leaving Saracens. At the same time, I began playing for Bedford and coaching in the Academy at Saracens. It went from one job, to 3! Saracens were excellent at helping me transition out of playing (something that every professional sportsman must be aware of) and continue to help players explore dual careers today. You are guaranteed the career you have after rugby will be longer than the one you have in it!

I had some great years at Mill Hill working with some brilliant people. The school let me start teaching a few lessons alongside my coaching and I was on the route into education. However, I had the opportunity to go back to Saracens and start as the Academy Manager, this was an amazing chance to implement many of my thoughts on developing adolescent rugby players. For the next 5 years, I had a great time and the Academy had some great successes. For every international that came out of the Academy, there will be a player you have never heard of whose life has been improved because of his time at the club. That is success.

It is great to see the academy flourish, almost 50% of the senior squad is now made up of academy graduates. In the same way that people who come through and love an environment can add value, Old Millhillians can make a great impact on the future. I hope they continue to contribute to school life as they did when I worked there.

I left Saracens to take up a role with the RFU. It was a very difficult decision to leave the club. I did so to gain experience and learn in a new environment. I now work as the Head of Regional Academies, with responsibility for the Academy system in England. It is a great role where I get to work alongside so many people focused on improving the experience of young people in and outside of rugby.

What was working at Mill Hill School like?

Getting used to a ‘normal’ work environment took a bit of time, however I was able to get great support from the school, whilst they let me bring my own style to the rugby programme. There was a great mix of staff, both sporting and academic. They all saw the benefit in education outside of the timetable, I thought the genuine care in the life each pupil was awesome to see.

What has been the most positive thing you have taken from your school days into your adult life?

‘You don’t stop playing when you get old, you get old when you stop playing.’ Not sure this question entirely fits, but it certainly reinforced my belief that extracurricular activity and ‘play’ in its purest sense is vital. People want to enjoy things; the challenge is to bring that ethos into any environment. Why should play be exclusive to the young?!

What’s the most interesting thing about you?

It depends who you ask. I started keeping bees when I was a rugby player, I wanted something to learn and thought that would be interesting! I was also a crisp taster of the ‘Food and Drink Show’ as a 7 year old. My TV career went downhill after that!

What is your proudest moment to date and why?

I am fortunate to have had a lot of good moments. I am not sure I have any big ones that stand out… I had a good career in sport, I have loved my working life since. I get a lot of enjoyment from my family! I think the best thing is watching the impact in everyday successes, if something I have done helps someone achieve something or adds value… then I am happy! You can find small successes everywhere, you just need to look.

Do you keep in touch with any Mill Hill Staff or Pupils you taught?

Yes I do… I made some great friends and am glad I met a lot of the staff! I bump into parents and players I worked with every now and then. It is always good to see how things are going!

What’s your driving force?

I like watching other people get better. I loved the school environment, I love coaching as you get a chance for other people to explore their capability. The biggest challenge is to create an environment where people are safe to explore, discover, create and build relationships that can bring the best out of people. If you can achieve that, there is no better feeling.

Which four famous people would you invite to a dinner party?

To be honest, give me a room full of good friends, wine and some nice food and the famous guys can go elsewhere!

Favourite memory from your time at Mill Hill School?

Argentina tour with Graeme Turner, John Barron and Adam Morton. It was one of my first few weeks with the staff at the school and the players. It was an amazing country, great people, great food and some big memories! I will never forget watching pupils ride semi-trained horses in all directions across a cattle ranch, balancing terror and exhilaration. More than that, it was the start of some good friendships! In close second, watching Alun Rise curl up to sleep on an infant mattress in a midlands hospital was a special treat!

Worst memory from your time at Mill Hill School?

I don’t have any!

If you won £10 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money? Pay the mortgage! Then I think there is a decent holiday for family and friends. I would like to see if I can do some good with the rest of the money. I have a few ideas… I will keep playing the lottery!

Your favourite quote?

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference. Last Part of ‘The Road Not Taken’Robert Frost

The funniest thing that has happened to you recently?

My youngest recently escaped the cot and ate and smothered everything in sudocreme… it was a high and low in one equal swoop!

A piece of advice you would pass on to those leaving Mill Hill School? Stay curious, ask questions and make no assumptions. I always think there is more to learn…