Old Princethorpians

I started my studies at Princethorpe in the year 2000 and continued through to the Sixth Form completing my A-Level studies in 2006. During my time at Princethorpe I was honoured to have been selected to serve as Deputy Head Boy and extremely flattered to have been awarded the Princethorpe Shield in 2006. I enjoyed my time at PC immensely and as a result I have hardly left the place since finishing my studies here!

Throughout the course of my Undergraduate degree I consistently returned to the school during the busy holiday periods to help out in the Estates Department. This was an experience that taught me a great deal and was certainly handy in topping up the coffers!

Upon graduating from the University of Birmingham in 2010 I returned to the College and was offered a more senior role within the management team. I currently work as Foundation Estates Administrator for the Foundation alongside Mark Johnson - the Foundation Estates Manager – and carry out a number of tasks. On a day-to-day basis my most important tasks are to act as a liaison between teaching and support staff and to manage the work-flow for the Estates Department at both Foundation sites. This can range from arranging for a replacement light bulb to be fitted to organising large-scale events such as the National ESAA Cross Country Finals that were held at the College last November. I am also partially responsible for managing Health and Safety both at Princethorpe College and Crackley Hall which can be rather exciting at times!

Alongside my work for the College I am currently studying for an MA in International Security at the University of Warwick, on a part-time basis. It’s going very well and I’m enjoying being back in academia once again – although balancing work with my studies has been a steep learning curve! With any luck I shall graduate in July 2013.

My experience of Princethorpe throughout my time as a student was, I am sure, very similar to many of yours – full of very happy memories. The school allowed me to develop not only my academic and sporting talents but, most importantly, my overall character. I think that my time here has stood me in extremely good stead for the future and I owe a great deal to the College for supplying me with such a well rounded education. This has continued into my daily job with the Foundation and I look forward to what the future holds with great anticipation!

OP Shaun O'Hara (left 1974/5) has recently launched a "free to use" business support website. The ulr is http://cohort-business-support-helpme.co.uk/

It has a "Panel" of Businesses who are willing to give advice to those from the business community as well as a monthly newsletter from the Panel Members to any site visitors that register on the site. (Sent at the end of every month)
 
Shaun comments, "It is early days yet, but in six weeks there has been some 2,000 odd hits on the site."
 
He thinks it may be of interest to any Old Princethorpians who are running their own businesses.

I was at Princethorpe from around 1985-1989.

I remember some of the teachers well, we had Mr McGreavy for woodwork, Mr O'Grady for Maths, he was funny, always swearing, making jokes, smoking in class and had a finger missing.

I recall that we had a lady English teacher who I used to fancy. Then there was Mr Harwood for History, a strange fella he was, with his clumpy ginger hair and beard. And of course not forgetting Mr and Mrs Skiffington, Pricey, the games blokey. Father Whelan, Father Lee and Father McManus etc.

After I left, I went to Mid Warwickshire College of Further Education to study Art & Design for a year and got a Diploma.

I then worked for the Hilton Hotel at Warwick as a Trainee Live-in Manager. After which I moved away to Eastbourne and lived there for a few years, then worked up and down the country in various locations and establishments, working up to a qualified Sous Chef.

Since then I have moved to Surrey, bought a house, sold a house, got married, got divorced and worked in various hotels and restaurants in roles ranging from Chef De Partie/Sous Chef/Head Chef. I also worked for a Fine Dining private airline as a chef to the rich and famous.

My claims to fame include working alongside Jamie Oliver and the winner of the TV Programme 'FIFTEEN' and being taught a few tricks of the trade by Italy's most famous chef Gennaro Contaldo and Gareth Clarke, Gordon Ramsay's Sous Chef.

I now live with my girlfriend and three children in a rural village near Guildford. I am not working at the moment as I am awaiting a hip replacement.

I left Princethorpe in '94 and decided to take a year out. Shortly afterwards I was informed by my parents that my year out would not be spent loafing around the house so I took a job with Bass Taverns. I ended up staying with them for four years and managed various Ale Houses around Warwickshire.

Then came a two year stint with Calor Gas before I ended up in the delightful world of recruitment. The next 10 years were spent with the likes of Blue Arrow, Toner Graham and Michael Page recruiting everything from an HGV Driver to Financial Directors across the Midlands.

At the start of 2011 I decided to set up my own company (chrisfollyltd). We offer Social Media Management services to businesses across the UK and it's the best thing I've ever done.

Away from work, I've been married to Emma for five years and we have two sons, Max and Harry. We live just a few miles from the College in a small village called Draycote. In my limited spare time I enjoy Rugby Union, shooting, cooking and property renovation.

I'm pleased to say that my best friends are still the same guys that I went to Princethorpe with and I have some very fond memories of the old place.