How long have you worked at the Uni? What does your role involve?
I started here as a contractor in January 2007, and then I applied for the full time job. My job includes rolling out the new School branding online and in print, analysing web traffic and testing the pages. Even though my job has ‘web’ in the title, I don’t just do web, it very much spills in to print and foremost regard myself as a designer in all that I do.
What would you most like to achieve while at the University?
A building, research centre or lecture theatre named after me would be nice! I’m joking. As part of a team, it’s important we produce information that’s clear, helpful and useful to all, whether that’s staff, visitors, students and all inbetween. Asking people what they need without assuming. I also hope I do a good job helping people when they have problems and spread a little bit of joy whereever I go.
Name one thing that makes you feel proud to work at the University of Bath?
When asked, I say “I work at the University of Bath” and I leave a slight gap and continue with “School of Management.” They sit up straight and take note and then ask “What do you lecture in?” I then let them down slowly that I’m not an academic. I do feel honoured to work here and, not just saying it, I’m proud of my colleagues. I work with a really great team, we all look out for and support each other.
What piece of advice would you like to give to a student?
Enjoy your university life. I loved uni life. I’m thinking of my son (he’s six) if he was going to Uni, I would say enjoy it! I know you’re gonna learn whilst you’re there, but you learn about being a person too. That’s what I took from it. I loved the fact that I was away from home, and being able to make decisions myself. It felt like my life had started, being independent and deciding what time I could stay out till!
Who was your most influential teacher/educator, and why?
I hated school, but there was a Religion teacher at school, Mr Mannocks, he was cool. I remember him talking to us as if we were people, not pupils, and I respected him more because of that. He didn’t talk down to us like many other teachers did. Even though I wasn’t very good at the subject I wanted to get a good grade for him, and not let him down. I failed R.E.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
There were three things - a priest, a magician or a comedian. When I’d go to church I remembered wanting to be up on stage. All three are very similar, you’re on stage preaching to or entertaining an audience, but obviously as a priest you can’t tell many jokes and some bible stories aren’t that funny!
I watched Paul Daniels when I was a kid and really liked doing magic tricks, even though my brother would always reveal how I did it and would ruin all my tricks!
At school I was so small, I got bullied. I had to survive. The only way I could get the bullies on my side would be to take the mickey out of myself. I would joke with them and they all became my mate, well most of them. Self-deprecating was a big part in school and has become a big part of my style as a comedian. I do stand up on a regular basis. I run a monthly gig in the Barley Mow pub in Bath. We’ve only had 4 shows but we are already getting a bit of good reputation for the night. (Sorry, little plug next night is on the 14th June)
What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you were younger?
I was never one to look after money, so I think I would say to myself save a bit more. Very much live for today motto.
What was your first job?
Me and my brother used to do painting and decorating for a local Parish club. We were like the Chuckle Brothers, always breaking things! I remember we were painting the bathrooms, and I stood on the toilet cistern, it came away from the wall, and water filled up the room! Some tasks felt like we were on The Crystal Maze. My brother smashed a fluorescent light tube, and was showered with glass, he pulled a bit of glass out of his head and a spray of blood just came out, like something from a horror film! I don’t know why my uncle employed us, we were rubbish.
If you could start your own dream business, what would it be?
I studied graphic design, animation and illustration at uni, and have always enjoyed art and design, so it would have to be something around that. I like making my own cards for friends and family (when I have the time). I find when you get something personal made it feels more touching. My dream business would have to be something around design, did I mention design enough? And doing my comedy at night.
Where is your favourite holiday destination and why?
I actually had my honeymoon back up in Liverpool (where I’m from)! I love going back there and seeing family and friends, and being around the accent too.
We lived in New Zealand for a bit and that was gorgeous, but I don’t know if I’d go back there. There are a few places I’d like to go to, like Canada and South America.
There is a place we go, in the Gower in Wales and stay in a caravan. When you go there’s no signal on your phone, no wifi and at first I found it a problem and then it made me think. You're disconnected from it all and it's really liberating. The caravan is right on the coast so you can hear the sea. I love being by the sea.
What’s your favourite book or album and why?
I was listening to the BBC 6 Music festival in Liverpool on the radio a few weeks back, and it made me quite homesick. It also made me tap back into the Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper album. I’ve been marvelling at how creative these lads were, and feeling quite proud that they’re from Liverpool. These young lads had so much they wanted to do and experiment with. It’s made me want to go and do the Magical Mystery Tour up in Liverpool where you tour around Liverpool and end up at the Cavern Club.
Me and my mate, Barry, used to be in a band called Pontoon, who are still going, and we played in the Cavern Club (not the real one - they had to move it when they built the underground). We played to a packed room once it was brilliant, and I remember thinking “This is brilliant!”. It was such a special moment.
When are you happiest?
When Everton win - only joking! When I’m around my family. I'm really close to my family even though they're miles away. I'm always going up to Liverpool to see them and mates, and to encourage my son to work on his scouse accent.
If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be and why?
It would be David Bowie, that would be boss. When he died I was mourning for a week. It felt like somebody close to me had died, which is a weird feeling. I didn’t know I would feel like that. It’s weird because he’s never met me, but I’ve grown up with him all my life. I’m gutted I never saw him live.
Tommy Cooper as well! I’d loved to have met him. He could walk out on stage and people would laugh, he didn’t need to say a thing. And the two Ronnies, and Morecambe and Wise – how many am I allowed?!
Which one superpower would you like to possess?
I wish I could fly to work, I only live in Twerton but takes about 2 days to get to work [slight exaggeration].
Tell us your favourite joke
My friend’s wife left him last week. She was going out for milk and never came back. I asked him how he was coping. He said “not bad I’ve been using some of that powdered stuff”.