I DID. YOU CAN.
People from a wide range of backgrounds, jobs, interests and geographical locations share their stories. How did they get to where they are ? Are they living the life they imagined when they were 14 years old ? What advice would they offer a young person setting off on the journey of life ? Phil Crompton - author of " In Search of My Alumni" and a former school leader - finds out how they did it and how others can do something similar. There will be something for everyone in this series. We all need role models. Here are plenty.
Episodes
63 episodes
"I Climbed Kilimanjaro -and learnt things". The Ascent
I've written a book called " I Climbed Kilimanjaro- and learnt things". I drafted in a guest interviewer. Tony Roe worked for the BBC for a few years. He knows what he's doing. It was good to chat with him in his garden and relive t...
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15:02
"I Climbed Kilimanjaro - and learnt things. ( And if I Did You Can )" - an introduction
In this episode Phil Crompton introduces his new book " I Climbed Kilimanjaro and learnt things ( and if I Did You Can )". Available through Amazon.He sets the scene for what's to follow.
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2:32
Ruth Taylor : Chartered Accountant
Ruth thought that accountancy might be for her but then she was so switched off by A level maths that she started to look at other options. She considered tree surgery and dental nursing after completing a degree in International Relations and ...
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30:12
Phil Gibbs : Barrister
A shy boy from Letchworth who had trials with Luton Town FC is now one of the East Midlands' most experienced barristers. As a 14 year old he never considered the Law as a career. Spending time in France picking grapes and cracking jokes&...
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31:43
Naomi Burton : Midwife
Naomi is a rarity. She knew from an early age what she wanted to do with her life. Her career as a midwife has brought her so much satisfaction. It's lovely to hear someone who is in her element.
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28:34
Jacqui Callan : Solicitor
Jacqui's story is remarkable. She is now Head of Crime for a major legal company and is a highly respected solicitor. But at 14 she was firmly of the view that the Law wasn't an appropriate career for a girl from a working class area in North W...
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32:46
Gemma Myles : Art teacher in Hong Kong
I met Gemma when she working at one of our schools in Nottingham. I was sad when she left because she was a very good Head of Year. Now she lives in Hong Kong. At 14 she wasn't really sure what she wanted from life but knew th...
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33:34
Sonia Byers : CEO of Women in Transport
Sonia is from East London. She earned a degree by studying at a university in France and one in England. Alternate terms in each country. How brave is that ? She suggested that 'Women in Transpor't might need a CEO and that she was willin...
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31:04
Peter Carlisle : Engineer
I've known " Two Careers Carlisle" for a long time. He says he's lucky. I suppose he might be but there's far more to him than that. He spent a long career as an engineer, travelling all over the world in a variety of roles. Then he set up a ca...
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33:48
Lewis Smith : Equine veterinary surgeon
Really interesting conversation with Lewis. He went to Harrow School - that in itself was an eye opener. Very few vets seem to have emerged from Harrow, but Winston Churchill did. Lewis has worked in Florida, Queensland and at the home of...
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33:28
Matt Raine: Financial advisor
Matt is an experienced financial advisor. He's now got his own company. In this episode Matt explains how he made his way through the rigorous qualification system to become a financial advisor. But he also tells us how he had dreams of becomin...
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31:47
Jessica Faulkner -writer about experiences of autism
Jessica found her early teens difficult. And now, at 18, she doesn't always find things easy but she is now a published author and the world is looking brighter. To anyone who hasn't always fitted in I say " Listen to Jessica."And here'...
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21:41
James Hall :Owner of a digital agency
James runs a digital agency that specialises in creating accessible services. He loves his job. But it hasn't always been the easiest of journeys. James found book learning difficult and he was 17 before dyslexia was diagnosed. He made it to un...
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31:58
Fraser Williamson : Senior Discipline Manager at the Football Association
At just 24 Mansfield born Fraser holds a key role in the FA disciplinary system. It's been a rapid rise. Qualifying as a referee led to Fraser gaining an understanding of how the rules of football should be applied and after a regional ro...
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32:28
David Hughes : Writer, educator- and almost an astronaut !
David was a teacher for a long time. A very successful one. But then his career started to dart around a bit. He's written books. Some about education, some about life in North Wales -under his pseudonym Ambrose Conway- and he's also become imm...
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28:57
Alice Gregson : Executive Director
Alice is the Executive Director of Forum Strategy- an organisation that supports and develops leaders of Multi-Academy Trusts. She experienced bullying in her school days. It wasn't easy. Her career has been a squiggly one not a straight line b...
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31:34
Neil Timms : Assistant Chief Fire Officer
Neil is a Chartered Accountant who had a key role in the Fire Service. He was brought up on a council estate and dreamt of being a jazz musician, preferably a saxophonist. In the early part of his career he was just a bit lazy. He couldn't see ...
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33:03
John Johnson : Owner of decorating company and an expert in Egyptology
John had a pretty unhappy time at school in Ashton-in-Makerfield in the north west of England. He left as soon as he could to become a painter. Very soon he had set up his own company and employed over 60 people. The company thrived. ...
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29:06
Ross Crombie : Marketing executive at Boots plc
Growing up in Elstree Ross Crombie had little idea of what the future held. Could it be journalism ? Well, he and a friend started a newspaper called 'Impact Weekly' - but he didn't follow that path. Ross had a passion for history-...
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35:21
John Fallon : until recently CEO of Pearson
John was brought up in north Manchester. His dad was a primary school headteacher. At 14 there were few signs that John would end up leading a company that had 24,000 employees in 70 countries. It's funny how life works out. After an energetic ...
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34:57
Clare Linton : Transport strategist
Clare knows a lot about transport. She's a key player at the Urban Transport Group which works with all sorts of organisations to help them clarify their transport policies. Having studied geography at Sussex University Clare then took on the c...
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29:17
Etienne Stott : Environmental campaigner and Olympic Gold Medalist
Etienne Stott won an Olympic Gold Medal at London 2012. Just pause to think about that. He had devoted so much of his life to pursuit of that medal. And then he had it. Wow. But what next ? Etienne still paddles his canoe but most of his ...
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31:50
Eric Greenhalgh : Mining engineer
Eric had passed the 11 plus and went to a Grammar School. But it didn't suit him. He had little interest in an academic education and at the first opportunity he left to start work as a coal miner. Eric was identified as a young man with promis...
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29:51
Donna Warren : she runs a running business in Ibiza
Donna had a good corporate job in the UK but gave it up to follow a dream. She wanted to live in Ibiza- and she loved to run. So now Donna organises runs for tourists. I think many of us have been on holiday and thought that it would be f...
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29:29
Alex Bulman : Senior Design Strategist in Houston, Texas
Alex was a student at the very first school that I led in Nottingham. He was 14 when I turned up. I'm embarrassed to say that he didn't find his education very engaging. However, I was delighted to find out that he was living a great life...
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26:57