Bio

The first thing to know about me is that I will always be thinking about music. Even if we’re having a conversation. Sorry!

My chosen field has been education, and there is no reason to believe that this will change any time soon. I have, at one time or another held most positions in education – teacher (Reception to Y10), deputy head, nursery nurse, chair of governors, classroom assistant, private tutor… I’ve never been a caretaker. I’ve stayed with education, despite some rough years, because I’ve always believed I can make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people. I currently hold a position teaching maths in a secondary school in Washington.

I was born in Oldham in 1975. I have a brother (2 years younger) and a sister (8 years younger). They’re both fab, although I haven’t always thought that!

I moved to the North-East when I was about 2 years old, and was brought up in Washington, first in Fatfield, then in Donwell. My parents are wonderful people, and we had a happy childhood. My teenage years were a little more fraught, but that’s because it was around this time that my bipolar disorder kicked in. I suppose I’ve been a mild sufferer, really, but that didn’t stop it from causing all sorts of problems for me as a young person (and an adult too!).

I did well at school and college, and went to York University in 1994, initially to study maths, and subsequently linguistics, when that didn’t work out. After my degree, I spent a year on the Students’ Union with some great people, several of whom I’m still in touch with.

I got married the year I left university for good, and moved to London (East Ham). I lived there, and then in Dagenham, for a few years, before I moved to Yorkshire. I have spent most of my adult life in Penistone (although obviously , if this blog has any longevity, eventually I’ll have to change that statement). My children were born whilst I lived there – they’re grown up now, at 19 and 17 – and remain a source of great pride.

I separated from my wife (amicably) in 2022 and got divorced a year later. In that time, I moved back to the North-East. I met someone new and we dated for over a year, opening a coffee shop together in summer 2023. Sadly, that went sour by January the following year, and we separated. She asked me to walk away from the coffee shop, so I did, and went back into teaching – this time doing supply.

I did that for a few months, until a friend of mine who worked in the school I’m now at suggested I tried out as a secondary maths teacher (“we’re crying out for them”). I interviewed well and got the job. My first term was really tough, but I learned quickly and feel like now I’m doing well – I’m certainly enjoying it.

In March 2025, I met the love of my life. The story may well be posted on here someday, but it’s enough to say for now that it was a storybook romance – met in a bookshop, love at first sight (believe it!), tentative communications at first through Instagram. We’ve been together happily since then. We got engaged in October of that year and will be setting a date at some point. She has 3 children that live with her, and love them too.

So, that’s a potted history of me. Tell me about yourself!