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Alumni: Who graduated between 1980 and 1989
1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989
1980
Carlos Piedrahita: I went to the London School of Economics (MSc Finance) then came back to my home country, Colombia where I have worked for 30 years, the last 12 for Grupo Nutresa (branded processed foods), as CEO. Married with a son and a daughter.
Helen Terry: Radical changes in jobs (Journalism, Press officer, Anglican priest, now Music teacher). I suffered from cancer and now live with two adult children.
Paul Garland : Took time out last year to walk the Camino Frances from Spain to France to Santiago de Compostella in NE Spain, and plan to do the same next year walking up from Lisbon. Currently in the hospitality Industry and reckon there is another 1o years work life left in me.
1981
Jenny Bending: Went back to Zimbabwe the year after graduating but left there in 2004 and now living in New Zealand.
Jeremy Daines: Petroleum Geologist, now a Consultant.
Kim McKibbin: After thirty years in London working as a criminal barrister I have left the Bar and escaped to the country with husband and dog.
Eric Rose: After serving as Social Secretary at Keele in 1981-1982, I worked in the entertainment industry in Cornwall, Bedford and London. In 1986 I moved with my wife, Wendy, and family to New York where I spent several years in the newspaper business and attained an MBA before becoming a Financial Planner and ultimately opening my own practice. Sadly, for the apst five years I have been incarcerated for a crime I did not commit. I am very grateful to former friends abd teachers and staff from Keele who have remained supportive and in touch. I would welcome hearing from anyone who remembers me from our time at Keele.
John Dawson : Established and ran The Spark Magazine in Bristol for 15 years. Since 2000 i have been passionately helping people who hate public speaking to get over it! I have discovered my true purpose! Married to Clare Hughes in 2003 who was unlucky and did’nt got to Keele.
1982
Christine Clarke (Foster): I am a police constable
1983
Jazz Matharu : Had fun making music until parents asked me to get a "proper job". Was Chairman of Arts Club Mayfair and run own Tax Practice for people in film, tv and music and the arts and also run an IT Company. Enjoying life in London.
Val Clarke (Dodd): Now living in Huddersfield with my husband Wayne Clarke (1983), working in Christian retail.
Wayne Clarke: I've now left the BBC after working as a radio producer and presenter for eleven years. I'm working now as minister of New North Road Baptist Church in Huddersfield. Val (Dodd, 1983) and I have been married since 1984 and our two children are both undergraduates.
Eileen Harrop (Chew Khean Geok): The Rev Eileen Harrop has become the first woman from South East Asia to become a Church of England ordained minister. She was ordained by the Archbishop of Canterbury on 30th June 2012 at Canterbury Cathedral, becoming the first female in a long and historic line of family members to serve as a Church minister. Eileen's ancestors, converts who benefited from the service of UK missionaries, travelled from China to Hong Kong, Malacca and Singapore. Her parents, now retired medical doctors, made their home in Singapore. Eileen grew up in a British-colonial evangelical Brethren family and attended a Methodist school. Many of her family members set up churches in South East Asia: her grandfather, Dr Benjamin Chew, is regarded as a local elder statesman of the Christian church in Singapore; her great-grandmother, Tan Siok Kim, was the first local woman Christian teacher in Malacca; and her great-grandfather's father (by adoption), Song Hoot Kiam, was the first local Christian pioneer in Singapore. Other family members were involved in setting up the Singapore government: her great uncle, Goh Keng Swee, was a cabinet minister in the first government. Married to Brian Harrop (1990), whom she met in her final year at the University of Keele Eileen first worked in England as Head of Religious Education in an inner-city high school. Then after a masters degree in Diplomacy, instead of a Diplomatic career, managed hospitals. A telephone call from a 'headhunter' took her into the world of business and industry, advising international blue-chip companies around Australasia. When she and Brian returned to England she set up in business working with clients from Britain to the Urals. Eileen says: "I am quite orthodox theologically and Chinese culturally. Despite my ancestral legacy, and achievements in professional and business life, as a woman from my part of the world I certainly did not expect God's call to ordained life. I now see that this privilege of ordained ministry is not about my competence or suitability for a special sort of corporate leadership; it is the testimony of our faithful God whose desire is to love us, whose love is unchanging towards generations of those who love him." Eileen and Brian begin the next chapter of their lives in Tenterden this summer.
Illya Torbica: What happened to: Since leaving Keele in 1983, I`ve been in International Sales, working in North & particularly East Europe. In October 2011, I met by chance Ian Brunt on a plane and have kept in touch with him since then and he`s the one who directed me to the "Lost Class of 83". Cheers Ian, we`ll have that weekend drink soon.
Olwen van Woerkom (Enright): In September 2012 I begin studying International Development at University of Amsterdam.
1984
Robert Evans: After working in London, Canberra and Belfast, I ended up in New Zealand
Miranda Mawer (Barry): Working in Wellington, New Zealand; hoping we'll have a house built by next year...
David Vayro: I am a partner in Gateley, a UK top 50 full service Commecial law firm. My area is construction and engineering and I specialise in EU and domestic Procurement (no restricted top the construction sector. I am married to Ruth and we have two gorgeous boys, Oscar (6) and Luca (4).
1985
Rosemary Gorell (Mee): About to move to Perth on the next stage in my life journey and in the process of writing another book.
Peer Schmitz : I am now working in Munich as a Systems Administrator for a medical research centre. Married with 2 wonderful daughters! Would love to hear from old friends!
1986
Simon Miller: I continue to work in PR and currently run government and media relations projects for Telefonica O2. I have been married to Kate Jenkins (1988) for twenty years and we have two sons. We still see a lot of Keele friends from 1985 (e.g. Bim Patel, Jerry Duncan etc) through to 1989(e.g. Polly Leys).
Martin Williams: Now happily remarried and living in Perth, Western Australia
Niall Wilson: After leaving Keele I moved to Stockport with Christine Baker (Keele IR graduate,1984). Chris and I married in 1989 and have two sons who are both now at university. I taught in primary schools, before training and working as an educational psychologist. I now work as an NHS clinical psychologist with children with autism and mental health problems. I haven't acted on stage for years, (something that took up a lot of my time at Keele!) and instead satisfy myself vicariously with visits to the Edinburgh Fringe.
1987
Antony Edwards : Along and varied career in the oil and gas industry with BP and BG Group has lead to me starting my own consulting company. Married to Marcela who is from Chile, with three small children. We travel and ski as much as possible.
Bridget Appleby: Now back in the office after a decade of working at home (and looking after James and Matthew). Now Malcolm is retired I have completed a Masters in Occupational Health and Safety, and I'm currently on contract to Cancer Research UK, helping with the health and safety guidance.
Marcus Brown: From being made redundant last year, I am now working freelance as a self-employed SEN consultant in East Riding. We now have three daughters with Sophia being born last October.
Julie Draysey: Primary Teacher > Driving Instructor > Emigrating
Julie Jones: Lived in London after graduating and started my career in HR. Moved back to the North West over 20 years ago and live with my lovely partner Steve and our dog.
Jennifer Sutch (Ibbott): I married just after graduating and have four sons - three of whom are now experiencing university life for themselves! I continued to write but nothing published. After years of being a full time stay-at-home mum, I'm now a Newly Qualified Teacher - of English of course!
Alwyn Teh: Married Clare Lucas (English & History 1987) in 1991 and we have three children, living in southwest London.
Karen Walsh (Costello) : Am married to Ian (AKA Batmas ex- security) and we have a six year old son. Have recently started work at Lancaster University project managing a new HR system implementation.
1988
Amanda Carr : I am now working at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology for The London Project to Cure Blindness.
1989
Bernard Emmett: Worked as a maths teacher in Botswana ('95-'01). Since returning, have worked as a supply teacher and have worked for Royal Mail since 2005. Have kept in contact with and met occasionally some old Keele friends (Stuart Lee, Dave Parslow and Chris Ambler). Would love to hear from others!
Maria Skrzypiec: Happily living in the south of France, working as a freelance editor.
Sian Sweeting (Williams): After graduation I worked in IT for eleven years. I am married to Jim and have two sport mad sons! We have moved around a bit for job reasons and have lived in Staffordshire, Yorkshire and now Nottinghamshire. We also spent three years living in New Zealand, before settling back in the UK. I have now retrained and work as a School Bursar in Leicestershire.
Andrea Veale: Living and working in Devon as Marketing Manager for Architectural Firm. Two teenage kids and more grey hair than I’d like!
Julie Welch (Harrison): Living in Herts - still in HR after entering it over 20 years ago. Now Group HRD of medium sized logistics company. Married and two teenage children and see Keelie friends each year.
