What led you to teaching?
I was bored with sitting at a desk doing what someone else thought was important but I didn’t! Children are never boring and always important.
What inspires you and what you do?
Getting better at what I do; helping children believe they can do difficult things and that it’s worth it.
What do you love most about Skippers?
The children, the autonomy and the view.
Who was your most inspirational or influential teacher?
Mr Brennan. He was a huge, old (it seemed to me) Irishman, a former rugby professional, who took no prisoners but was an absolutely fascinating man, full of stories from his own life and an absolute mine of information about myths and legends. He was also absolutely rigorous and never accepted second best and I still try to live up to his expectations.
What is your proudest achievement?
Completing the Three Peaks Challenge, climbing the three highest mountains in Great Britain. I had nasty blisters, the arthritis in my knee was very painful and it was pouring with rain but I kept going, skidding down the slippery rocks on Snowdon to complete the challenge with my team.