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Alumni: Who graduated between 1970 and 1979
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979
1970
Stephen Booth: I am just about to retire after 42 years of teaching History. I have dabbled with local politics - becoming a councillor and Stone Deputy Mayor. I am a local history speaker as well as treasurer of Stone Historical & Civic Society. I have had several local history articles published using Keele's publishing facilities and intend to write more!
Julia Ibbotson (Adams): As well as running our home, kitchen garden and orchard, and being wife, mother to four and grandmother to four, I’m still working as an academic: senior lecturer at the University of Derby in the School of Education as Director of Studies to doctoral students and supervisor to Masters dissertation students. I’ve reduced my hours this year as I am growing my work as an author. After years of writing academic works I returned to creative writing with "The Old Rectory: escape to a country kitchen" about the renovation of our Victorian rectory and am currently engrossed in writing my new novel "Drumbeats" about a young girl on her rite of passage gap year in West Africa in the 60s who becomes embroiled in civil war and unexpected romance. My (probably last) academic work, "Talking the Walk: should CEOs think more about sex?" is re-issued too - it’s about gender and communication issues in management and leadership. I would love to hear from any Keele folks, contemporaries 1966-70 and others too.
John Park: My novel “Janus” is scheduled to be published by ChiZine Publications in Toronto in September 2012.
Ian Robinson: Recently retired after seventeen years as Principal of Sterling Hall School in Toronto.
1971
David Cotton: After a short spell in teaching, I trained as a town planner and worked as such in Lincolnshire and latterly Leicester before retiring in 2011.
Frankie McGauran (Shaw): I was one of 5,000 people randomly selected to run five miles into the Olympic Stadium on March 31st 2012
Steve Mills : Having retired from teaching American Studies at Keele in 2009 I taught history at Ruskin College Oxford for three years. I have now fully retired in order to write full time.
Jeff Sedgley: I have finally retired and now living in Spain with my partner.
1972
Nick Leonard: I taught history for ten years, mainly in the independent sector. In 1986 I studied for an MBA at Cranfield School of Management and then worked for a number of international companies in business development roles. Nine years ago I was made redundant and retrained as a professional tour guide. I have always been interested in history and now guide parties, families and individuals of all ages and nationalities to attractions in London and throughout the UK. Would love to hear from fellow Keelites 1968-1972.
John Wilde: After leaving Keele, I went to live in Le Mans where I have been ever since. I retired in September 2011 from teaching at the local university here. During my career, I worked on a committee which decided the national curriculum for teaching English and was an examiner for the competitive exams which enable students to become teachers in France.
Aris John Zacharoff: Has recently become a father to a beautiful girl!
1973
Margaret Lee (Davies): I am still working as a Project Manager with Tata Consultancy Services, having been outsourced from Legal & General four years ago. After Keele, I went back to university (City University in London) in the mid-eighties and gained a MSc in Business Systems Analysis and Design. Have been in IT ever since. I developed a liking for skiing and still manage two weeks of that every year. I am in contact with a number of classmates but would love to hear from any I have lost contact with.
Jil Dobson: Now semi-retired, but still working as an examiner for the English Speaking Board. Going to live in Bulgaria in May 2011.
John Strain: Now in my fourth career! Teacher, Naval Officer, Academic and now a vicar! Met Margaret on the first day at Keele in 1968 - been married 40 years this Sept. Two childrenand two grandchildren.
1974
Diane Charnock (Wainwright) : Set up my own executive search (headhunting!!!) business in 2011 and enjoying the freedom working for myself brings. Able to send more time travelling and looking after my 2 year old grandaughter Constance. No plans to fully retire though as i love the work i do with is mainly recruiting Exec and Non Exec Directors for the NHS.
Brian Heaton: Having reached the mature age of 60 and about to become a granddad for the second time, I have passed the advanced driving challenge and hope to remain safe on the road for a few more years thanks to IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists). I urge many of my age to try it! It’s a whole new experience.
Ann Lester (Mason): Re-married on 21 July 2012 and very happy. Gave up teaching 8 years ago for a less stressful life, but still working in a school. Just reduced from full time to 3 days a week and am enjoying the long weekends.
Stuart Raymond: We have moved to Trowbridge after 20 years in Exeter. Always pleased to see ex-Keelites.
Andrew Williams: I went to Switzerland in 1975 in pursuit of Jane (Campbell) - We now have two kids and are probably planning to leave Scotland in a few years’ time to live in France and make the perfect ratatouille.
1975
Peter Tillisch : After graduating in 1975, I dabbled briefly with a career in social work, but abandoned this when I discovered I did not have the requisite skills, patience, or temperament to work in this challenging environment. What I have been doing for the last 30 years is running a business supporting people who (sometimes) need help because of their disability or age. I now own 2 care homes supporting older people who have reached that stage in life when family can no longer continue to look after them. So I guess that takes me back to where I started!
I live in North London, am married to Christine whom I met long after Keele and we have 3 children all in their teens. It would be nice to hear from any old Keele friends.
1976
Tony Bartley: Became a teacher at Sandbach School, married another Keele graduate, and had three sons, two of whom went to Keele.
Stella Lambert: Retired from Staffordshire Probation Service - now breeding Rare Breed Sheep on a smallholding. My son, Edward graduated Keele in 2005 and now working as Probation Officer in Staffordshire.
Jim Moran: Took up my new post in Cairo as EU ambassador to Egypt in February. A fascinating time to be in this ancient land!
1977
Andrew Cassie: Have been running CIB, a marketing agency for 27 years now. Recreation wise -thinking I'm never too old, have started to coach my grandsons under 8's football team.
Gillian Cook: I was awarded a scholarship year to the University of Massachusetts, at Amherst, Massachusetts, at the end of my third year at Keele. I had to earn the money for my return ticket at the end of my year abroad and got a job working with emotionally disturbed adolescents in a residential treatment program. I loved the work, my employers applied for a work permit, I stayed, fell in love and got married. I worked in mental health for 18 years. During that time I got divorced, remarried, and had two children, Kate (20) and Nick (16). For the last fifteen years I have worked as a textbook editor; first as a freelancer and for the last two and a half years as a senior development editor for Pearson. I live in Western Mass in an old farmhouse, have a large vegetable and perennial garden, and am looking for ways to live and work in both the US and the UK.
1978
Andrew Howitt: After leaving Keele I went into teaching and followed the career to two secondary headships. I started my own consultancy company in 2008, training teachers and working as education consultant to F1 in Schools. I am now CEO of Louth Education Community Interest Company, managing and developing Louth Town Hall as a major community and education hub.
Robert Hume: I live in Broadstairs and have taught history in three Kent secondary schools. At present I work for the East Kent Health Needs Education Service, teaching children who are too ill to go to school. Outside school hours I write feature articles for the Irish Examiner and books, including several children's historical biographies. In 2010 I wrote Thomas Crapper: Lavatory Legend to commemorate the centenary of Crapper's death. My latest book, Clearing the Bar, is about the German high jumper, Gretel Bergmann, and her dream of taking part in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Rick Potter: Can't believe we have been in Argyll now for nearly four years - loving it (despite gales, power cuts, telephone cuts, water cuts etc). Started to record my second album (first was in 1994) and playing twice a week now. Still working in recruitment and still enjoying finding engineers new positions!
1979
Edward Charlton: Living in Pennsylvania, running a small publishingcompany - check in at scribbulations.com.
Annabelle Howard: Married the American on campus, Forrest Stone. Our older child is called Keele and is a stand-up comedian in New York City. The younger one is at university in CT. Forrest and I created a non-profit that runs an online "motivational learning league." We had 22,000 kids enrolled last year. I also write fiction and occasionally try to step away from the computer.
Phil Osborne: Phil and Vana (Honsdale) (1978) are living near Farnham. Phil works for Surrey County Council as Head of the Early Education and Childcare Service. Vana is Assistant Head at Calthorpe Park Secondary School in Fleet. We have two children - Dagan & Aleiya - and are still in touch with a few friends from our days at Keele.
Barbara Smith: I work in peace-building in post conflict countries. Recently in East Timor, Angola, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan and DR Congo
Peter Meade : I have been working as a freelance science writer and photographer for the last 5 years. I write for the pharmaceutical industry and photograpgh equastrian sports; polo for the most part. During the summer, i watch and umpire as much cricket as i can. In 2012 i stood in games at Lord's for the first time.
