JLC

QUESTIONS WITH STAFF – RAY PERRY

Name: Ray Perry

Role at John Leggott College: Careers/UCAS Co-ordinator

Years ‘active’ at JLC: Coming up to 37 years [on 31/08/09]

Former JLC roles: Teacher of English, Head of Sociology, Schools Liaison Co-ordinator

QUESTIONS ABOUT JOHN LEGGOTT COLLEGE & CAREER

Q. What do you do in your current role at John Leggott College?
A. I do my utmost to help students find their ideal post-college destination.

Q. What are your strongest memories from your time as a tutor?
A. Why is this in the past tense? Do you know something I don’t? I’m hoping to publish my memoirs. Readers of this can e-mail me a fiver to reserve a copy.

Q. Do you still keep in touch with any former students?
A. Not with any consistency because, 1) they might see me as a stalker. 2) I haven’t caught up with chatroom technology, it’s lovely (for me) when I bump into a friendly face – and it stays friendly!

Q. Do you still keep in touch with any former staff?
A. Yes, I visit them in the old Leggottonians Rest Home. They all claim JLC was best when they were there.

Q. Nina Nannar recently returned to John Leggott College and she was in your tutor group when she attended the college, what was it like catching up with her?
A. Fun. She was, and continues to be, a delightful, intelligent and sensitive individual.

Q. Are there any other former tutees of yours that have gone on to greater things since leaving the college?
A. All of them that I know of! That’s the Leggott legacy [note to editor: remind the Principal he owes me the agreed fee].

Q. Can you remember your first day working at John Leggott College?
A. I can. I was asked what I was doing in the staffroom, and told to go to the back of the lunch queue – they thought I was a student.

Q. How has the college changed since you began?
A. Apart from my subtle, some might say, negligible contribution; the college has remained on the same site, but it’s difficult to think of anything else that hasn’t changed radically. Bigger, brighter, and for the most part – better.

Q. What does the future hold for you?
A. I can announce here, as a scoop for you, that I am not leaving yet (unless pushed).

Q. Any final comments/memories about your time at John Leggott College?
A. Sometimes I still dream I’m at JLC – then I wake up and find that I am!

RANDOM QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Q. What is your earliest memory?
A. Locking myself in at home and waving to my mum, as she and others made ladders to get in! (The following months are very hazy).

Q. What was your most embarrassing moment?
A. Admitting to you that I was 14 in the above incident.

Q. Who would play you in a film of your life?
A. Jim Carrey, to inject some life into it!

Q. Who would you invite (dead or alive) to your dream dinner party?
A. I’d like Maggie Thatcher & Banquo (dead) and certain ex-JLC students and staff (alive).

Q. If you could go back in time, where would you go?
A. See answer to below question:

Q. When were you happiest?
A. When women found me irresistible (ignore those who claim this never occurred).

Q. What would your super power be?
A. I’d settle for human powers; decrepitude awaits…

Q. When did you last laugh so much it hurt?
A. Watching Laurel & Hardy films [in 1932].

Q. What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
A. Humour is age-related [see answer below].

Q. Tell us a joke:
A. I tried telling jokes all my teaching life; you wouldn’t want to hear one of mine, I’ve discovered [see above answer].

Q. Finally, one of life’s great mysteries: Is a Jaffa Cake a biscuit or a cake?
A. Neither. I’m on a diet, but I still eat Jaffa Cakes. Info Facto, it isn’t a biscuit or a cake, because they are banned.

QUESTIONS WITH STAFF – DI SMITHSON

Name:   Diane Smithson
Role at John Leggott College:   Senior Technician
Years ‘active’ at JLC: 20 years
Any former JLC roles:

QUESTIONS ABOUT JOHN LEGGOTT COLLEGE & CAREER

Q. What do you do in your current role at John Leggott College?
A. I maintain equipment in the Physics Department, put out and tidy up equipment needed for lessons, deal with new stock and making sure that it is all stored correctly.   Provide First Aid cover for the Department. Deal with the day to day running of the Physics Department, including selling Revision Guides, typing up work sheets, ordering stock, making equipment and copying.

Producing ID Cards for students and staff and dealing with locker key enquiries/problems. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), repairing any electrical AV equipment for the whole college. Taking out Display Boards and leaflets for liaison events in other schools/colleges, driving mini-buses for various visits – taking the Students Ambassadors out for training, taking the medical students to Hull & York Medical School, to Shrewsbury School for the IYPT competition and Charterhouse with the Rocketteers to name a few.

Finally, leading a team of 11 Technicians and dealing with all their problems!

Q. What are the best things about working at JLC?
A. The staff and students who are very friendly.

Q. Do you still keep in touch with any former students?
A. Not directly but some call in to see all of us in the department.

Q. Do you still keep in touch with any former staff?
A. Only at Christmas.

Q. Last year we had many significant alumni visiting JLC. Did you get to meet with any of them? Any memories from when they were students at college?
A. I met some of them, but did not have any contact with them as students.

Q. Can you remember your first day working at John Leggott College?
A. Only vaguely.

Q. How has the college changed since you began?
A. Very much so; D, E, H and M blocks and Margaret Mason Building have all been built in the time I have been here.

Q. What does the future hold for you?
A. Retirement!

Q. Any final comments about your time at John Leggott College?
A. I have always enjoyed most of the work I have had to do at College. The positives far outweigh the negatives.

RANDOM QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Q. What is your earliest memory?
A. The Principal asking me to check his OHP that didn’t work only to find it wasn’t plugged in.

Q. What was your most embarrassing moment?
A. Not sure maybe it’s still to come!

Q. Who would play you in a film of your life?
A. Pam Ferris

Q. Who would you invite (dead or alive) to your dream dinner party?
A. Paul Newman, Nelson Mandela, Ghandi, John Lennon, Julie Waters, Jo Brand and Victoria Wood

Q. If you could go back in time, where would you go?
A. 1920s

Q. When were you happiest?
A. When my children were small.

Q. What would your super power be?
A. Cure illness.

Q. When did you last laugh so much it hurt?
A. In July at my daughter's birthday bash.

Q. What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
A. Life’s too short to be unhappy.

Q. Tell us a joke:
A. “Doctor, Doctor I feel like a pair of curtains”…..“Pull yourself together.”

Q. Finally, one of life’s great mysteries: Is a Jaffa Cake a biscuit or a cake?
A. Cake.

FORMER PRINCIPAL, DAVID LINNELL

Name:  Dave Linnell

Role at John Leggott College: Principal

Years at JLC: 17

Current role/Location: Principal, Cornwall College

QUESTIONS ABOUT JOHN LEGGOTT COLLEGE

Q. What were the best things about working at JLC?
A. It was brilliant working with staff and students and life at JLC, for me, was always fun.  There was always something different happening, whether it was with the Student Union, sport or performing arts.  It was also a period of time when the College made major progress, and hopefully supported large numbers of students.

Q. Which JLC students do you stay in touch with?
A. There are a number who email me either to see how life is or to request a reference.  I met a number of students when I returned to Scunthorpe 2 years ago, although this was in term time and a large number of students were at University.

Q. Which JLC staff do you stay in touch with?
A. Many but particularly Malcolm Fry, Nic Dakin and Barbara Blagrove.

Q. How has the college changed since you left?
A. It’s really difficult to comment on this because I have only spent a couple of hours in college in the 4 years since I’ve left.

Q. What is your most memorable moment from JLC?
A. There were many.  Presentation evening, student events, ‘A’ level results day, opening of new buildings, hearing of student success.

QUESTION ABOUT CURRENT ROLE

Q. How is your new role different to that at JLC?
A. Cornwall College is a group of 6 colleges and therefore my involvement with students is much less.  I have much more involvement with staff but do not see students anywhere near as frequently as I did at JLC.

Q. Any regrets?
A. JLC was a brilliant experience for me and I had a wonderful time.  However, life moves on and if you approach life in the right way, you shouldn’t have regrets.

Q. What does the future hold for you?
A. We intend living in Cornwall for the foreseeable future.  Having been born in the County it’s a wonderful place to live.

AND FINALLY….

Q. Do you have a message for former students / staff who remember you?
A. My best wishes to former students and staff.  I hope they are progressing their careers and lives and they are enjoying what they are doing.  I very much hope JLC was a good experience.

QUESTIONS WITH STAFF – JANICE GIBSON

Name: Janice Gibson
Role at John Leggott College: Assistant Principal (Student Services)
Years at JLC: 34 years
Any former JLC roles: Teacher of Mathematics

QUESTIONS ABOUT JOHN LEGGOTT COLLEGE & CAREER

Q. What do you do in your current role at John Leggott College?
A. I am responsible for all aspects of student welfare, support and guidance and admission of students including Schools Liaison. I am also the Senior Tutor for Intermediate and Foundation Students.
I am supported in my work by a very able dedicated group of staff;

• the team of Senior Tutors
• the Student Support team who deal with collection of money, travel, attendance and EMA
• the Inclusive Learning Coordinator, Additional Support Coordinator, Teams of Learning Mentors and in – class support, specialist support for dyslexia and other study support
• the Chaplain, Health Officer and Welfare Officer
• the IT, library and technician teams

Q. What are the best things about working at JLC?
A. Working with keen enthusiastic student and staff and liaising with parents and staff from other agencies. Also, the variety of the work.

Q. Do you still keep in touch with any former students?
A. Sometimes I see some of those who live locally.

Q. Do you still keep in touch with any former staff?
A. At college functions I see several former staff.

Q. Last year we had many significant alumni visiting JLC. Did you get to meet with any of them? Any memories from when they were students at college?
A. Yes I met a number of them.

Q. Are there any other former students you have worked with that have gone on to greater things since leaving the college?
A. There are several current staff who, like me, were former students of the college.

Q. Can you remember your first day working at John Leggott College?
A. Vaguely, it was an Enrolment Day.

Q. How has the college changed since you began?
A. The ethos remains the same despite there being huge growth and development especially in IT.

Q. Any final comments/memories about your time with John Leggott College?
A. John Leggott College is an excellent place to study and work I hope that its success will continue.

QUESTIONS WITH STAFF

Name: David Neal

Role at John Leggott College: Still on the ‘front line’ in the Physics and Electronics department. I also support student applications to Oxford University.

Years at JLC: 1976-81 and 1984-2010 = 102 terms so far!

Any former JLC roles: Curriculum Manager, Head of Physics and founder of the Electronics department.

QUESTIONS ABOUT JOHN LEGGOTT COLLEGE & CAREER

Q. What do you do in your current role at John Leggott College?
A. Try to find a way of sharing my enjoyment of Physics with my students without boring them. I’m always on the lookout for a catchy phrase to aid their memories or a clever demonstration to surprise them.

Q. What are the best things about working at JLC?
A. The large number of students who successfully move from here to Higher Education – often as the first in their family to do so. The pleasant working atmosphere here (created by students and staff) and of course, the ‘gay, witty repartee’ of the Physics department.

Q. Do you still keep in touch with any former students?
A. Yes …at least twenty fairly regularly, including several of the students now at Oxford, and not forgetting those now working at John Leggott!  But then there are the pleasant surprises when others suddenly appear in unlikely places and make themselves known. This has occurred to me twice fairly recently in a supermarket in Doncaster and after a church service in Edinburgh.

Q. Do you still keep in touch with any former staff?
A. I sing in the Lydian choir with 3 former staff and communicate with quite a few others around Christmas time. However I do wish I had made a greater effort to keep in touch with more.

Q. We’ve had many significant alumni visiting JLC. Have you met any of them?
A. It is always a pleasure to see former students return or to admire their achievements from afar. But I suspect that there are many ‘unsung stars’ out there amongst the alumni who might not be so famous but have achieved remarkable things, in some cases against all the odds.

Q. Can you remember your first day working at John Leggott College?
A. I have a stronger memory of the day in February 1976 when I came for interview by Eric Charlesworth (Principal), Keith Constable (then Vice Principal but also a physicist), and Ray Dickens (then Head of Physics). The highlights of that day were getting the job and meeting my wife for the first time (she was the physics lab. technician).

Q. How has the college changed since you began?
A. Almost every aspect of college has changed …. most of the buildings, most of the staff and all the students (many times over). The only things that seem to remain the same are the general ethos of the place and the never-ending rows of lockers filling the corridors.

Q. What does the future hold for you?
A. In the longer term retirement (hopefully before the retirement age goes up again), but in the meantime I’m doing an Open University Maths degree and enjoying seeing my daughters enjoy success in their lives.

Q. Any final comments/memories about your time with John Leggott College?
A. There are so many things to remember but I will limit myself to three of the funnier ones. The visit of BBC’s Panorama team and having them in an Electronics class with the director calling everyone ‘darling’, one of my earliest Head of Department meetings when staff dress was discussed (should male staff be made to wear a tie?), and the students who came up to me at the end of a Physics lesson to ask where they could buy some antimatter!

RANDOM QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Q. What is your earliest memory?
A. I remember helping(?) my father in his greenhouse when I was very small and apparently pulling up the tomato plants he had just put in the ground.

Q. What was your most embarrassing moment?
A. Nothing major comes to mind …except perhaps singing in Britten’s ‘Noye’s Fludde’ with the college choir under Sue Hollingworth years ago and being required to sing a short solo in a high pitched falsetto voice, much to everyone else’s amusement.

Q. Who would play you in a film of your life?
A. After advice from friends and family it has been suggested that a combination of Kenneth Branagh and Ricky Gervais would best do me justice.

Q. Who would you invite (dead or alive) to your dream dinner party?
A. There are several of my ancestors that I would like to meet to help resolve gaps in the family tree I have been compiling for some years. From the past I would have liked to entertain Michael Faraday, Marie Curie and William Wilberforce, whilst in the present David Hockney and Lesley Garrett come to mind.

Q. If you could go back in time, where would you go?
A. I’m not sure that I could cope with the state of sanitation and medical expertise that existed in all but the recent past, but I’ve often wondered what it would have been like to meet my parents and grandparents when they were younger.

Q. When were you happiest?
A. My own schooldays were certainly not the happiest days of my life. I feel much more relaxed now, but I guess the best moments were probably when my daughters were young.

Q. What would your super power be
A. I’m quite happy to accept the few powers that I’ve been blessed with.

Q. When did you last laugh so much it hurt?
A. At a family gathering a few years ago when my brother reminded me about a bizarre moment in our childhood.

Q. What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
A. How much I have to be grateful about ….. a lovely family, good health, a nice job and good friends.

Q. Finally, one of life’s great mysteries: Is a Jaffa Cake a biscuit or a cake?
A. This is an interesting question and as a scientist I feel it deserves proper experimental research. All I need is a year’s supply provided by some kind sponsor!

QUESTIONS WITH AN EX STUDENT – SAM ADAMS

Name: Sam Adams

Location: Nottingham

Occupation: Freelance Creative Facilitator, Graphic Designer, Photographer, Promoter & DJ

Years attended: Not sure, sometime between 1990 and 1995

Form Tutor: Mr Hill (?)

Subjects taken: Psychology, Sociology & Religious Studies

QUESTIONS ABOUT JOHN LEGGOTT COLLEGE & CAREER

Q. What have you done since leaving John Leggott College?

A. I have had a very varied life and career since leaving John Leggott College. I explored a variety of occupations including Accountancy, Bar Management, and Children’s Entertainment, Sound Engineer, DJ, Graphic Designer, Art Therapist and many others. When I left John Leggott I moved to Manchester to be involved with the music scene that was growing there at the time. I then travelled around Europe for a couple of years. When I returned to UK I moved to Nottingham to be with friends. I went on to University to do a degree in Environmental Science. This didn’t suit me very well so I left uni and went into accounting. This suited me even less so I then went into Bar Management. This suited me more but still wasn’t my niche. I have had a strong creative influence in my life and output from my life so I thought it was time to get serious and apply myself. I took some advice and applied to go to universities all over the country in different courses. I applied for Psychology, Popular Music, Anthropology, Mental Health Nursing & Art Therapies. After going for interviews it became clear to me that my path forward was in Art Therapies so I embarked on a degree at Derby University in Art Therapies.

The degree was very intense and involved a lot of experiential group work. I found this very challenging and very rewarding at the same time. I learnt a lot about myself and about how people interact with each other. The most important thing I learnt in my time at Derby University was that to create is to live!! After University I got a part time job as a support worker for a homeless charity in Nottingham working with people with learning disabilities who were on the streets. I also joined a theatre company called Indigo Brave for several years working on sound for their stage production and also working for them in secondary schools. The work in schools was with vulnerable young people either at risk from permanent exclusion from school or social exclusion within school. We did intense work around self worth/self esteem. The program was very successful and helped some very vulnerable children. Alongside this work I also worked for the City Council on many other projects such as working in music studios with young children from areas with high gun/knife crime. I worked on photography projects with vulnerable young people developing positive body image. I worked on music/theatre/film projects with repeat offender car thieves. This project involved smashing cars up musically and making a film about it. Probably my most successful project to date.

After working with vulnerable people for a number of years I decided it was time for a break for a few years to pursue my own creative projects. I have been a successful promoter/DJ in Nottingham running my own club night for 7 years now. I am also a graphic designer and photographer. I occasionally have had shows in galleries of my work and sell pieces from time to time. I am also currently working on a book. I am coming to the end of a period of creative self indulgence and am starting to crave to work with people again. I have decided to continue my education and will be doing a Diploma in Gestalt therapy from next year.

Q. What are your strongest memories of your time at the college?

A. I have some very fond memories of John Leggott College. I was attending the college in the first year Dave Linnell took over the college as principal. I think my strongest memories are of how Mr Linnell listened to me and helped me to get what I needed from the college, rather than what other people thought I should need from the college. It was down to him that Psychology was added to the syllabus at John Leggott and I was one of the first students to take the course. This brings me to another very strong memory of the College. The Psychology teacher that came to the college was I think called Mrs Pollock. I had low expectations of myself academically and had problems engaging with some material. She helped me to realise that I could be successful. She inspired me to believe in myself and without both of these people influencing my life at that time I think I would be in a very different place right now. I thank them and respect them very much for what they did for me.

Other memories of John Leggott are very fond memories of some amazing friends I met there. I had a very interesting and fulfilling youth whilst attending the college.

Q. Which teacher at the college inspired you the most?

A. I am slightly ashamed because I am struggling to remember the names of the teachers. The most inspirational teacher I have ever had and one that helped me turn my life around was my Psychology teacher. I’m pretty sure that she was called Mrs Pollock. Another teacher that inspired me was my RE teacher, not least because of his seemingly infinite amount of patience but also because of his willingness to explore ideas to their end. I wish I could remember his name.

Q. Did you have any fashion blunders during your time at the college that you regret now?

A. I can’t bear to think about it. I liked bright colours at the time. I think very few photos survive, thankfully!

Q. What is your greatest achievement in life so far?

A. It’s hard to answer this question as some achievements may seem small but are very significant. Going to university was at the time my biggest personal achievements.

I think the achievement that has the most significance for other people is working with homeless people. As I stated earlier I worked with people with learning disabilities who were homeless. I worked in a hostel with outreach flats. The hostel was for high support needs and we took anybody that nobody else would take.
Amongst the people I worked with there were a number of sex offenders with learning disabilities. One of my main roles was to monitor and help them to stop offending. Not to go into too many details I worked very successfully with several offenders who may have offended had I not worked with them. The nature of the work meant that I came into contact with a number of people who were determined to re-offend. The training and expertise I had allowed me to judge when I thought somebody was about to offend (there is a thing called a cycle of offending that can be broken. If it is not broken I is highly likely that the person will offend) I placed police on them to watch and arrest if any conditions their sex offenders order were broken. I successfully helped to convict 2 very dangerous men who were very difficult to stop offending. If I hadn’t done the job then there would have been some children who would have gone through some horrific things. It’s not an achievement I like to shout about but I am very proud for the work I did.

Q. What is your ambition for the future?

A. To work as a part of a team helping young people who have had very difficult lives to turn their lives into something they can be proud of and happy with. On a personal note, to get my photography recognised and in a gallery and to get my book published.

RANDOM QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Q. What is your earliest memory?

A. Moving to my new house from Leicester to a little village called Messingham nr Scunthorpe at about 3 years old.

Q. Who would you invite (dead or alive) to your dream dinner party?

A. John Lennon, Helen Keller, Carl Marx, Emily Pankhurst, Winston Churchill, Jim Morrison, Herman Hesse, Picasso, Salvador Dali, Joni Mitchell, Carlos Catsaneda, Bill Hicks, Lady Di, Matt Lucas, JFK, Nico, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald & Bob Marley & James Todd ( a very close friend form sixth form college who is sadly no longer with us).

That would be my fun dinner. If I were to have one with a little bit of a darker edge, for educational purposes then it may look a little like this...

Stalin, Hitler, Myra Hindley, Jack the Ripper, Genghis Khan, Mussolini, Ian Huntley, Lee Harvey Oswald, Gunter Von Hagen, Saddam Hussein, Pol Pot, Tamerlane, Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Idi Armin & Simon Cowell. I may need some armed assistance with this lot or I may be tempted to lock them all in together and run away!!!

Q. If you could go back in time, where would you go?

A. I would be tempted to go to see the dinosaurs or to go find out if Jesus was real or many other ancient historical affairs but I think I would go somewhere in living memory. To the UK & America at the end of the 1950’s. I think musically and culturally it was one of the biggest changes in a civilised nation in history. It marked changes in freedom in relation to race, gender and age and freedom to choose lifestyle. The music that came from that era is, in my opinion, still the best that the modern world has produced. I would meet as many influential people as I could as early in their career as I could. This way I would have power & influence in a world I would love to be a part of.

Q. What would your super power be?

A. To be able to be inside somebody else’s mind. Not to change anything, just so I could see the world from somebody else’s perception.

Q. What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

A. You have to make your own chances. If you really want what your heart desires then nobody else has the knowledge or understanding to achieve it for you. Only you can do it. If you don’t it will just go undone and that is the biggest travesty a person can visit upon themselves.

Q. Which living person do you most admire, and why?

A. I find the word ‘admire’ to be a bit loaded. I prefer respect. I respect many people but I think the person I respect the most alive today is Joni Mitchell. There are many political and powerful people who maybe have more sway but she is an amazing woman.

Q. Tell us a joke:

A. I’m not very good at one liner jokes but here goes anyway...

What did one wall say to the other???

I’ll meet you at the corner.

Q. Finally, one of life’s great mysteries: Is a Jaffa Cake a biscuit or a cake?

A. As far as I know it is legally a cake. There is no VAT on cakes but there are on biscuits I think I remember seeing people from Jaffa bake a huge one and showing it to some people from the VAT. I think it was then given status as a cake. In my opinion it’s a biscuit. I don’t dunk cakes in my tea!!

USA EXCHANGE LEADS TO LIFELONG FRIENDSHIP

Jodie Booth attended JLC between 1996 and 1998 and studied for A-levels in English, Politics, Textiles and General Studies. Last month Jodie got in touch with JLC Alumni Association to tell us her story.

“I once took part in an American Exchange whilst studying at John Leggott College.....I thought you might like to know of a lifetime friendship created due to your exchange programme...”

It was 13 years ago this November that I was a student at John Leggott College, where one of my A Levels happened to be Government and Politics.  At this time, 5 students from the class, along with some science students, were offered the opportunity to take part in an American Exchange that had just been set up for the first time, to 'Clover Hill High School' in Virginia on the East Coast.

I decided to go on the exchange because I had never flown before and it had always been my dream to visit America, so this seemed the perfect opportunity.

While I was over there, JLC arranged for us to go to ‘Clover Hill High School’ with our exchange friend (Amber Wily) for a few days, we also visited Washington D.C and spent time with our families.  We were away for about 11 days.

Amber and I had the same outlook and opinions on things, which I think was the main reason we ‘clicked.’  We also had some similar hobbies and interests, but also some different hobbies to keep things interesting!

I was one of your first students who took part and I am still in touch with my American Exchange friend 13 years later.  In fact, they have now moved out to Utah and I visit at least once a year, where I have been welcomed as part of the bigger family and have inherited a variety of nieces and nephews from my friend and her close family members - I’m one of the family! Amber has not yet visited England, she would like to once her children are a little older.

To anyone thinking about doing the American Exchange at JLC, I would say….DO IT!!!!  It’s the best thing I have ever done and at the time I signed up for it I would never have imagined I would have ended up, not only with a life long friend, but a whole American family.

JLC was a great experience for me and I enjoyed my two years spent there.

Name: Samantha Crick

Location: Lyttelton, New Zealand

Occupation: Cattery Assistant

Years attended: 1999-2001

Form Tutor: Can’t remember (he taught science and I think he had glasses)

Subjects taken: GNVQ Media Communication and Production, Art

QUESTIONS ABOUT JOHN LEGGOTT COLLEGE & CAREER

Q. What have you done since leaving John Leggott College?
A. I attended Lincoln University and gained a 2.1 Media Production degree. I have had a variety of jobs including travel agent, Video Technician for Grimsby and Scunthorpe Telegraph and most recently a dog groomer. I have also travelled to many countries in the last few years including America, China, Morocco, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia

Q. What are your strongest memories of your time at the college?
A. The friends which I made and the great times we had. My friends from college are still my best friends now.

Q. Which teacher at the college inspired you the most?
A. Shane Speed - he was always in a good mood and made the work fun. His enthusiasm encouraged you to do well and learn.

Q. Did you have any fashion blunders during your time at the college that you regret now?
A. Many!

Q. What is your greatest achievement in life so far?
A. Seeing the world, for me, is a great achievement.

Q. What is your ambition for the future?
A. To run my own animal related business abroad and to open a farm animal sanctuary.

RANDOM QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Q. What is your earliest memory?
A. My earliest memory is getting my chin wedged on a coffee table top and all my family laughing as I couldn’t get off.

Q. Who would you invite (dead or alive) to your dream dinner party?
A. The Dalai Lama

Q. If you could go back in time, where would you go?
A. I would love to go back to the Triassic period and see dinosaurs roaming about the lands.

Q. What would your super power be?
A. To be able to fly

Q. What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
A. Follow your dreams (very clichéd). Whatever your interests are, pursue them and it will help lead you to a happy life.

Q. Which living person do you most admire, and why?
A. Ingrid Newkirk - Founder of PETA. I admire the work she does for animals by campaigning and fund raising for the causes.

Q. Tell us a joke:
A. What's brown and sticky?
A stick! (sorry its a poor quality joke but it always makes me laugh)

Q. Finally, one of life’s great mysteries: Is a Jaffa Cake a biscuit or a cake?
A. A biscuit. I feel that anything that comes in a box containing more than 6 items has to be considered a biscuit.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - JAMES HARRINGTON

Name: James Harrington

Location: Castres, south-west France

Occupation: Journalist

Years attended JLC: 1988-1990

Form Tutor: Sorry, forgotten.

Subjects taken: A-level English Lit, History, Economics. AS-level General
Studies, GCSE Latin

QUESTIONS ABOUT JOHN LEGGOTT COLLEGE & CAREER

Q. What have you done since leaving John Leggott College?
A. Now then...University in Northern Ireland, then back to the old Mortgage Unit via Brighton and Canterbury. Unemployment. Journalism. Started at the Press Association in 1995 - worked there for eight years before work wanderlust and a shiny new professional qualification got me a sub editor's job at the Scunthorpe Telegraph. Three years and a weekly column later, I went back to PA - this time to work for the now defunct Teletext News operation. Left again in 2007 to join the Grimsby Telegraph as its chief features writer. Ended up writing editorial and commercial features for both Grimsby and Scunthorpe Telegraphs before my wife, daughter and I plucked up the courage to head over to south-west France. Here, we work for a small news agency, producing - bizarrely - TV guides for Irish newspapers.

Q. What are your strongest memories of your time at the college?
A. The people. The John Leggott I knew wasn't so much the building as the students who were there at the same time as me and the teachers who tried so hard to instil some much-needed knowledge into my brain. It nearly worked.

Q. Which teacher at the college inspired you the most?
A. That's a tricky one - but as my career is word-based, I'd better say English teacher Mrs Richards.

Q. Did you have any fashion blunders during your time at the college that you regret now?
A. I was a permanent fashion blunder. Still am. Compared to me, Jeremy Clarkson is a style god.

Q. What is your greatest achievement in life so far?
A. Becoming a dad. Soppy, but true.

Q. What is your ambition for the future?
A. Until September, I would have written something work-related - but then we discovered my wife was pregnant for the second time. So now it's simple. Be the best dad I can be to both my children.

RANDOM QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Q. What is your earliest memory?
A. There was a bright light - and then a doctor smacked me...

Q. Who would you invite (dead or alive) to your dream dinner party?
A. Ian Rankin, Iain Banks, Malcolm Price, Stephen Fry, and Simon Barnes.

Q. If you could go back in time, where would you go?
A. Woodstock. Definitely. Or maybe back to Northern Ireland in 1993.

Q. What would your super power be?
A. No superpower, just Simon Barnes's talent for sports writing, please.

Q. What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
A. This too shall pass. It has helped me cope with all of life's standard bad times. And the good ones, too.

Q. Which living person do you most admire, and why?
A. My dad - apart from the fact he's my dad, he did his doctorate while working full time at the steelworks. Somewhere, there's a photo of him writing his thesis at the dining table, while I sit opposite, drawing a picture.

Q. Tell us a joke:
A. See the answer to the earliest memory question. That's about as close as I've ever got to a joke.

Q. Finally, one of life's great mysteries: Is a Jaffa Cake a biscuit or a cake?
A. It's a cake - the courts said so in 1991. Means it's zero-rated for VAT. So I'll have some cash back, please Mr McVitie...

Bound for Cambridge

Arussiya Mkrtchyan, 21, from Kostanay in Kazakhstan, completed her studies at John Leggott College in June 2009. In August she achieved incredible A-level results and was accepted into Cambridge University – the first Kazak student from JLC to do so. Arussiya returned to college this autumn as a successful International Alumni and spoke about her time at JLC and plans for the future.

“I enjoyed my time at John Leggott very much; it was one of the best times of my life I would say,” said Arussiya.

“My best memories are always connected with new friends. I remember our parties organised by the College and our private parties at home. I also enjoyed lessons, strangely enough. I have very warm memories about our teachers and even the results days.”

Asked how she felt about going to university she said, “I'm a bit scared to be honest, but overall I'm really happy and excited to be able to learn more and find new friends. Also it gives me more confidence in my future as I'm more likely to get a good job that I like.”

Most international students from JLC go on to the top universities in the UK including Imperial, City, Warwick, Loughborough, and of course Oxbridge. The college specialises in preparing students for university and Arussiya could not agree more.

“College prepared me for the whole process of getting into university. Teachers helped us to pass our exams by always being there ready to help. Also, our staff helped us with UCAS applications, checked the applications (including personal statements) and we were only allowed to send it off when the staff was sure it was ready to be sent. By setting homework and research with deadlines, our teachers were preparing us for the actual life at university because this is how it is going to be at university: lots of independent research and strict deadlines.”

Following university Arussiya plans to work in the law enforcement field but jokes, “…well, at least I want to but I'm not sure if I want to be a solicitor or barrister. I may well become a detective working in some secret agency. It is quite possible, I’ve always wanted to.”

To sum up her time at JLC she says, “I'm happy I had this wonderful opportunity to study at John Leggott College and to get to know all those wonderful people and tutors as well. This is what I really liked at John Leggott; tutors are very friendly and treat you as equals. They are always ready to help and a great majority are very funny and interesting people.”

Arussiya plans to stay in touch with the college and the friends she made here. She wants to remind all international students to join the JLC Alumni Association too.

QUESTIONS WITH AN EX STUDENT – RACHAEL WHITE (nee PULLEN)

Name: Rachael White (nee Pullen)

Location: Sheffield

Occupation: Market and Social Researcher

Years attended: 1997-1999

Form Tutor: Leon Riley

Subjects taken: Sociology, History, English (combined)

QUESTIONS ABOUT JOHN LEGGOTT COLLEGE & CAREER

Q. What have you done since leaving John Leggott College?
A. Straight after college I went to Sheffield Hallam University to study Sociology. After university I got a job in Doncaster working for a Learning Partnership as a Research Officer managing and collecting data relating to education, learning, training and skills. I then started running my own Market and Social Research Company (Network Research and Consultancy) in 2006 whilst studying part time for my Masters Degree in Theology and Religious Studies which I passed in March 2009.

I got married in May 2008 to Michael White who I met whilst at university in Sheffield.

Q. What are your strongest memories of your time at the college?
A. I really enjoyed the experience of going to college and being treated like an adult. My lessons were fun and I was a member of the Choir and the concerts we did were always great to be a part of.

The strongest memory of college is of a Peruvian Friend called Jimena who had never seen snow so on the day it snowed we went outside and did a ‘rain dance’ in the snow.

Q. Which teacher at the college inspired you the most?
A. Nigel Preator. He was such a passionate sociologist and looked at everything through a sociologist’s eyes. It made me see that a subject wasn’t just something you read about in books but was something that could be lived, seen and analysed in real life.

Q. Did you have any fashion blunders during your time at the college that you regret now?
A. I’m not sure I regret them but the red tartan doc martins were definitely a fashion statement!

Q. What is your greatest achievement in life so far?
A. Starting and running my own successful business. I always thought it was for really clever people but it’s more about determination and passion.

Q. What is your ambition for the future?
A. To complete my PhD and win the lottery!

RANDOM QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Q. What is your earliest memory?
A. Sitting on the beach in Bridlington eating ice cream.

Q. Who would you invite (dead or alive) to your dream dinner party?
A. Stephen Fry, Jeff Stelling, Michael Palin and David Lloyd.

Q. If you could go back in time, where would you go?
A. The 1966 World cup final.

Q. What would your super power be?
A. I would be able to tell if people are lying to me.

Q. What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
A. Believe in yourself and learn from your mistakes don’t dwell on them.

Q. Which living person do you most admire, and why?
A. Sir Timothy Berners-Lee, he invented the World Wide Web, need I say more!!

Q. Tell us a joke:
A. There’s a middle aged lady looking in the mirror and not liking what she see’s so she turns to her husband and says “I really look terrible, my boobs are saggy, my tummy’s no longer thin and there’s wrinkles on my face, I really need a compliment” so the husband appraises his wife and then says “your eye sight is fantastic”.

Q. Finally, one of life’s great mysteries: Is a Jaffa Cake a biscuit or a cake?
A. Definitely a biscuit as you wouldn’t dunk a cake in your tea!

Tony TSANG Yat Shing

Tony TSANG Yat Shing, from Hong Kong completed his studies at John Leggott College in June 2009. In August he achieved incredible A-level results and was accepted into Oxford University to study Engineering.

Since leaving college Tony has stayed in touch with the International Centre and tells us about his fond memories of JLC.

“Honestly, I really enjoyed my life in Scunthorpe over the two years. I think the international concert in my second year is the best memory for me because I was one of the performers in the concert. There is no way for me to forget that night.”

Tony explains he was a little anxious about starting university but JLC had provided the best possible preparation.

“When I left college I felt ready to face the challenges of Oxford and wanted to do my best to show them the quality of students from JLC.”

“The JLC staff are helpful. They did a lot of work for my university application, such as organizing talks about UCAS, checking my personal statement and mock interviews. I really appreciated them for their help. I don't think my application would have succeeded without them.”

Tony settled in quickly and the same is hoped of his younger sister, Reiko, who began her studies at JLC in September 2009.

Keen to stay in touch with the college and keep an eye on his sibling, Tony said, “I will be coming back frequently to Scunthorpe to visit my sister and to visit the international centre. I had the time of my life.”

Clover YE Jinghua

Years attended JLC: 2003-2005

Subjects studied: A-level: Maths, Physics, Chemistry
AS-level: Biology, Further Maths

University attended and subject studied:
Oxford University, MEng Engineering Science

Current post: Sales Executive of GENEWIZ, Inc.

Q. Why did you travel all the way from China to come to JLC?
A. I wanted to experience something different and have a better education.

Q. How did you find out about JLC?
A. My high school (HSFZ) from Guangzhou had a partnership with JLC.

Q. What are your best memories of JLC?
A. My time with my second host family Jo Ramage. She took me to a lot of places and introduced me to most of her family and friends. We had a lot of activities, such as camping, and bowling.

Q. How did JLC help you to get into university?
A. JLC took me to visit the campus. They also helped getting in touch with current students so I had more insight view of the application and the universities. Tutors helped me perfect my personal statement.
Academic wise, teachers are very knowledgeable and responsible so that I learned well too.

Q. What have you been doing since graduating from university?
A. Firstly I was with a Nashville TN publisher for a summer internship. A month after I started working with GENEWIZ.

Q. What are your plans for the future?
A. After 2-3yrs, I may get a green card of the US or I may go back to China for a different job or I may do some further study.

Q. Do you have any other memories from your time in the UK that you would like to share?
A. I met some Christians and heard the gospel. I became a Christian myself. It was a wonderful life turning point. I had a very good time of fellowshipping with the saints.
There are many student societies at Oxford that I was heavily involved with. They have opened my eyes. I also developed many skills through my active roles within the societies.

Q. What advice would you give to an international student who is coming to JLC this September?

A. Study as hard as you can and get the most out of it, especially in the first year. Therefore second year will be a lot more chilled if you do well in the first year.  Travel around the UK if you have time because university life will be a lot busier. Make as many friends with the home students as possible. Hang out and have fun with your host, treat them like your family.

ERIC CHARLESWORTH: MY MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS AT JLC

When Mr Charlesworth first became a principal in 1958 it was of the grammar school. His incredible motivation and hard work resulted in the school moving locations and later evolving into the successful sixth form college it is today.

Eric Charlesworth, the former Principal of John Leggott College, gives us his five most memorable moments from his time in charge.

1. The beginning of JLC

“When I came to the school I wanted to get rid of the differences between grammar and secondary modern schools.”

“The project became my baby,” and finally in June 1964 the Scunthorpe education committee approved the plan for John Leggott Grammar school to become a college; this was the first education committee in the country to do so.

“Education experts thought it was crazy,” said Mr Charlesworth, but finally in 1968 JLC became a sixth form college - one of the first 6 in the county.

“They said that the college would be a failure but we got very good results and this is one of the most memorable moments.”

2. The Flixborough explosion

On 1 June 1974 the village of Flixborough, 5km north-west of Scunthorpe, was at the centre of the UK’s worst industrial accident when the Nypro works chemical plant was devastated by an explosion.

“It happened on the Saturday before A-level exams on the Tuesday. The hall, gym and dining room were set up for exams. North Lindsey college was being use to accommodate people who had lost homes. It was a worry for my students (that they would not be able to sit their exams).”

28 people died and more than 100 were injured with around 100 homes in the village itself being destroyed or badly damaged. “House windows were blown for 5 miles,” said Mr Charlesworth, “it is something I will never forget”.

3. The development of sporting success at JLC

“In the beginning Brigg sixth form used to thrash us at soccer. Then we got bigger and there was no point in even playing us any longer – we were too good.”

The team went on to compete nationally, said Mr Charlesworth. “We reached the final of the cup but unfortunately it was a draw and we had to share it for six months each.”

“When I retired, my vice principal Mr Constable became principal. I was keen on sport (particularly football), Mr Constable had thick glasses and wasn’t sporty. So this is part of the reason I kept in contact.”

“A sporting student I remember from my time is Keith Waters – he has a good job in golf. There is also the footballer and cricketer Phil Neale who has also gone on to great things.”

4. Students from other countries began to join JLC

“In the 1970s fifteen Ugandan Asians came to College. They had been expelled from their country and many came to England, particularly Scunthorpe. We wanted to make them feel at home.”

For background, said Mr Charlesworth, Idi Amin was a Ugandan military dictator and the President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. His rule was characterised by human rights abuses, political repression, ethnic persecution, extrajudicial killings, and the expulsions of Asians from Uganda.

“Back then it was unusual to see a Sikh man playing football wearing his turban but since my time I’m glad to see a huge expansion to students from other countries, especially from Russia.”

5. A final thought

“Staff and students mixed for lunch and in those days most people stayed in college. I made myself available for students to talk to me. Thankfully, the students had no idea that their principal existed on one ear (the result of a war injury)!”

Mr Charlesworth retired from his position at JLC in 1979 but has remained in touch with the Alumni team and continues to attend special college events.