About Me

I began teaching in 1973 having gained a B. Ed. Degree for Worcester College of Education and then taught in Birmingham until retirement in 2011, with 37 years being at Swanshurst School.  I obtained a M. Ed. From Birmingham University in 1993 and was awarded the M.B.E. for services to Education in the New Year’s Honours of 2012.

I became a teacher because of my love for History which I have tried to convey to my pupils throughout my teaching career.  I was fortunate enough to come up through the College of Education route which meant that I had four years learning to be a teacher and made me a good one!  I would say to the pupils and students that I taught that there is no such thing as bad History just bad history books and bad history teachers.

Throughout my teaching career I remained essentially a classroom teacher despite a long spell as a Head of Year.  I have always believed in teaching the whole child which has meant that I have continually looked for opportunities to enhance the lives of my pupils through extra-curricular activities such as clubs, events, charities and competitions.  In return this has enhanced my life and in 2009 I was very honoured to take a student to London, because of the work that we had done on Gun Crime, to meet Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister.  My last role at Swanshurst was an Advanced Skills Teacher.  Since 2008 I have worked with my local MP, Steve McCabe, to organise a Veterans’ Day at school with over 80 veterans from the Second World War and beyond coming to school to talk to the Year 9s about their experiences.

Since retirement I have continued to be involved with Swanshurst teaching a small part of the ‘A’ level history course, organising the Veterans’ Day, piloting lessons on Dementia and running the school’s recycling scheme.  Also Doug the Teacher has now become Doug the Historian with me giving talks to many groups, mainly on the First World War.  In 2014 I also had my first book published ‘From Trams to Trenches’ on the Birmingham Tramways War memorial and the 236 First World names mentioned on it.

Please take time to have a look at some of the projects I have been involved in and those planned for 2015/16 so far!