Alumni: Who graduated between 2000 and 2009

2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |

How does it Work?

We collect What Happened To's from about May to about February each year and publish synposes of these in the annual forever: keele magazine.
When forever: keele is ready to be published (usually about April), we replace the WHTs on the website with those received since February of that year and start all over again, adding them as they come in.... The current series of WHTs was begun in March 2013.

You can read past What Happened To's in our online versions of the forever: keele magazine 

2000

Ouided Bouachour (Chebil): I work as a teacher. I’m married and have two girls. I still live in France and enjoy travelling. I would be glad to get back to Keele and meet former students.

Emma Broome: After leaving Keele I got a job as a Business Development Executive at GSK. I remained in sales for 10 years with my last job at Eurostar. In April 2011 I resigned and retrained as yacht crew and I now run an 80ft sailing yacht with my fiancé for a businessman in California. We’ll be based out of LA this summer.

Amanda Hall (Cannings): In 2007 I married David Hall (KFM staff) at Keele. We now live in Rugby with our two beautiful children and a grumpy cat.

Joe Heppenstall: 13 years and counting as HR sourcing manager within sustainability sector, living on the south coast, married to Abi with twins Llana and Bella.

Megan Jenkins: Unfortunately I developed ME whilst studying at Keele. Although I somehow managed to graduate I relapsed badly after graduation and again in 2005 – when I became very severely affected and bedbound. I remain bedbound eight years later. Life is very tough – yet I cope well, remain positive and remember Keele and my Keele friends, very friendly indeed. I hope there is lots of support for Keele students with ME and other chronic illnesses and disabilities these days.

Matt Smith: After completing my Physics degree I went on to do a PhD at Durham University. I’m currently working across Europe as a business development manager for an advanced engineering company.Susan Thomason: I am now retired from nursing but am still studying and hope to start a PhD in the history of Medicine soon.

Amy Stuttle (Bell): After Keele, I went to Cambridge and completed a PGCE (and met my husband). I taught for 10 years at primary school level, before becoming a full-time mum. We have also bought and converted a disused church which has been very time consuming!

Constantina Tsikkouri: I am married and happy with my family I have one boy (3 years old) and I think life is good if we make it good.

Laura Waller (Crittenden): Recently married with a wee baby girl, working in an animation department as a PA at the House of Mouse!

Hannah Williams: I have two children – aged 6 months and 5 years. I am married and live in Essex at the end of the Central line. I work in London in financial services.

2001

Sheran Bradbury (Ward): I have agreed a Sabbatical to go to Egypt for a year to learn Arabic, and a write a book –I am now married to an Egyptian!

Christopher Dewhurst: Outside of the ‘day job’ I have been busy refurbishing my 1930s house, mainly designing and DIYing, this year I have taken on editorship of ‘Drag ‘N Drop’ a computer magazine for the Raspberry Pi (made in the UK) running RISC OS (an operating system designed in the UK) which also involves exhibiting at shows up and down the country.

Kevin Edwards: I am now married with 2 little girls and am a solicitor at Homes and Communities Agency in Milton Keynes, following the cpe Law course I did at Keele. I am still in contact with many friends from Keele and often pop back in on my way past to see the changes that have taken place.

Simon Edwards: After Keele I went to Chester Law School and gained an LPC qualification. I gained a training contract at Shakespeares Solicitors in Birmingham the following year and remained in Birmingham until 2011, when I moved to London. I am currently working as a solicitor at Wragge and Co Solicitors, and remain in contact with a number of the people I met at Keele.

Sarah Hayward (Pettit): After graduating I started work for Transport for London. I have been there 12 years now and have just delivered London’s real time information project ‘Countdown’ for buses. I’m currently on maternity leave after having my first baby with my husband Simon.

Geoff Jein: Exchanged the KUBE studios for the BBC! After six years at Radio 2, got married and now have two gorgeous kids. Spent a couple of years in Western Australia, but now back in London with Heart FM, executive producing Jamie Theakston and Emma Bunton’s breakfast show.

Rhys Maybrey: Since leaving Keele I undertook a Law degree at Teesside University which I completed in 2005. I then went on and did my LPC and left the NHS in 2006 to train as a solicitor. I left the legal profession in November 2007 and returned to NHS as a Theatre Staff Nurse.  I now work as an orthopaedic Surgical Assistant mainly working in Upper Limb Surgery. I was also appointed Magistrate to the Teesside Bench in 2012. I am married to my wife Debbie and have a 16 year old son.

Varuna De Saram: Qualified as a Barrister-at-law of the Middle Temple in 2002 and practiced law in London for 5 years. Thereafter I moved back to Sri Lanka where I practice as an attorney at law. I live in Colombo with my beautiful wide and adorable son.

Victoria Tunstall: With a 16 year courtship that includes an 11 year engagement, my fiancé Peter Ward (2001 Mathematics/Educational Studies) will be married in August 2013.

2002

Silje Bratberg: Did my MA in International Development at Flinders University, Australia. Have travelled and volunteered in Africa twice since then. I am working on a project in social entrepreneurship to work with vulnerable youth.

Emily Brough: Moved to Stockport to work for the council nine years ago. Keep meeting people who are also Keele graduates. Recently bought my own flat and now have become dedicated to DIY.

Scott Kenward: Spent seven years at HSBC, including a spell in Chicago, within corporate banking sphere. Moved on to regional sales role at Lloyds in 2012. Still living in Reading area with other half attending my fourth Keele wedding in September!

Kerry Macfarlane (Street): I now teach in a special needs primary school in Liverpool and absolutely love it! We just got outstanding in our recent OFSTED. Work hard and eventually the right opportunity will come along. We have an 8 year old son (Evan) and I am happily married to John.

Emma Pearce (Bacon): Got married to Gary Pearce in July 2011.

Lynne Rigg (Swatton): Following my time at Keele I worked as a named nurse for child protection, moving to work as an advisor to education staff in 2006.

Liam Steele: Left Keele in 2002 with a degree and PGCE. Spent the last ten years teaching in the north and south (London and Durham), the Middle East and now the South East Asia. Been in a Civil Partnership for eight years and have spent time fostering disables and emotionally challenged children.

Angie Woodbridge: Worked as a financial modeller and then project manager at Severn Trent Water before having Caitlin in Nov 2010 and Fletcher in May 2012. Engaged to be married in Aug 2014.

James Wright: Tennis coach for a number of years which led to a part-time PGCE, a part-time MBA which in turn led to PE teacher and then commercial director at two private schools. Currently living in the lakes and working at Giggleswick School.

2003

David Allsop: I briefly worked for Norfolk youth offending team before spending nearly 6 years in Housing management. I am now an operations manager for Birmingham City University whilst studying for an MA in Classics. I want to lecture in the field and recently set-up davidallsopclassics.wordpress.com to share my ideas whilst studying.

Elizabeth Dryden (Morris): Put my Psychology/Sociology degree to use – been a teacher of A-Level Psychology since I graduated in 2003. Got married in 2007 and have two children – a son aged 4 and daughter aged 1.

Maria Khan (Lockley): I married Salman Khan who I was also at Keele with. We have been married 6 years and have a daughter aged 5 and a son aged 2. We live in Scarborough and my job involves helping students with their UCAS applications as they too head off to university.

Susan Row: After tsudy abroad now settled in London and am working in healthcare.

Christopher Tate: Working for the environment agency in Cambridgeshire, happily married, bottomed some of the deepest Caves in Europe.

Jacob Walton: Graduated from Keele in 2003 and moved to London with my then girlfriend, now wife (also a Keele graduate) who I met in my first year. We now have two beautiful daughters and live in Wandsworth, South West London. I have worked predominately in finace and after stints at hedge funds and large international banks I currently work for Rothschils as an Assistant Director in Fund Management.

Gareth Whiteoak: Married Jennifer Coverley (Keele 2000-13). Working and living in East Anglia after an 8 year stint in London. Hope all those I knew from Keele are well and enjoying life, as I am!

2004

Decklan Ahern: After time working in the Civil Service I have spent the last five years working as a senior quality assurance advisor. I have also written a column for a local newspaper. I still live local to Keele and often visit campus and the Union.

Paul Dackeray: Since leaving Keele, I stupidly went into investment banking thinking it would be the ‘right’ thing to do. I did that for 3 years working in Bournemouth, Luxembourg and London and it just wasn’t ever me really. I’d fallen into quite a low state and needed to pull myself up again. Which is where I kind of fell into NHS planning in 2008 and it’s been a rollercoaster. The work has been strangely parallel to my degree (Applied Social Studies and Finance) with policy and number crunching. I’m currently doing my MSc in Health Economics at City University in London and hope to carry on being morally driven in my career path – wherever that leads. As for City University, it’s competent but very cold compared to Keele. Looking back on my time at Keele I would have embraced things more, but I was a kid back then and maybe a bit too cautious in my approach to life. Anyhow, looking back all I can say is I can’t recommend Keele highly enough and glad to see other ex-students are doing well.

Rachel Hale (Woods): Eventually moved to working for the home office – got married in 2012.

Caroline Sharrott: Since graduating from Keele in 2004, I have worked for the Crown Prosecution service in Birmingham and I now work for Ofqual as a Standards officer. I recently bought my first home with my partner Matthew Richards (also a Keele graduate from 2005).

Edward Swann: Had a son on 1/1/11, Maxwell. Got married on 1/4/10 to Amanda. Summited Uhuru peak, Mount Kilimanjaro in August 2012.

2005

Jody Ball: After graduating in 2005, I moved home and then in Sept 2006 moved to Bournemouth to attend the College of Air Traffic Control. I graduated with my student licence in 2008 and then went onto the London Area Control Centre where I fully qualified as a Radar Controller in Nov 2010.

Julie Gibson: Spent the last twenty years in various management roles in the voluntary sector. Recently elected as Lancashire county councillor for Skelmersdale west division of L.C.C.

Steffy Hodgson (Timbrell): I stayed in Stoke-on-Trent, amrried another Keele graduate aI met at the CU and now work in Sandback at a training and dcevlopment company.

Balraj Jagdev: I met my wife, Amarjit, at Keele in 2003. We married in 2007 and after almost 6 years of married life we are expecting out child together. Looking back at my years at Keele, I have to say they were certainly life changing and my formative years.

Ria Kelleher: After graduation I taught English in Korea for a year. I then worked for two and a half years at Centaur before teaching English and travelling around South America. I now work back at Centaur organising exhibitions and award ceremonies in the USA, UK and Asia.

James Mason: I entered a Civil Partnership with my boyfriend of eight years in September 2012, and I continue to study with the Open University as well as enjoying holidays abroad as often as possible.

Paul Mealling: Since Keele, I have set up a physiotherapy and running clinic. I continue to play the piano and guitar, I run regularly, and plan to travel again soon as I did before Keele.

Sean Monaghan: Completed MSc in Aquatic Pathobiology at University of Stirling 2007. Due to completer my PhD at Stirling in Aquatic veterinary studies. Now working as a researcher for University of Stirling funded by Pfizer Animal Health (Zoetis).

2006

Michelle Bradley: I met my husband Marc at Keele University; I married him 4 years after leaving Keele. We were both in Lindsay S-Block in our 1st year of Uni. I am still very good friends with a few of my fellow Students from Keele.

Eva Cole: Went on to work as branch secretary of Unison for 15 years. Retired at 65 in 2012. MA gave invaluable help on importance of research and accuracy.

Melissa Farleigh: After working at an advertising agency for four years I decided to realise my dream of giving back to University, (although will never compare to my Keele days) and am studying for a BSc Adult Nursing degree. I am currently half way through.

Rebecca Gatt: My Keele experience was great, mainly because I was only 21 years old when I started my MA and I was the only student from Malta on the course. The experience was challenging but unforgettable.

Amy Johnson: After completing my degree I got a job for a social landlord and secured several promotions in 3 years. I married Tom Johnson in 2011, he also attended Keele. I attend Homecoming every year; I cannot wait for this year’s event, the best night out of my year! Long live the Keelites!

Lucy Lugg: I’m now a science teacher, have been since 2006, and have two beautiful sons.

Claire McLennan (Fowkes): Part of the Hillsborough Disaster Disclosure project as an Archivist. Got married 2013.

Deborah Sambrook: I am currently a serring Prison Officer with 7 years’ experience. I am applying for the NOMS graduate programme in the autumn.

 

2007

John Butcher: I graduated from Keele in 2007 with a BSc in Computer Science and Management Science to go into completing a PhD in Neural Networks, again here at Keele. Since successfully defending my thesis in Nov 2011, I have started a post doc in Neuroscience looking at the role of astrocytes in learning.

Amy Cushing: Has taught in Malaysia, Spain and Australia since graduation. Have just left a teaching job at the University of Sheffield to begin work in Nottingham.

Amanda Houssein: After I left Keele I was lucky enough to be accepted onto the enterprise graduate management program. From here I have continued to work my way up to the sales manager covering the North West and building a career for myself over the past 6 years.

Rob Slinn: Working as a solicitor in Home Counties and London courts. Meet up regularly with the Keele Football old boys.

Tara Stott: Worked as rotational band 5 in NHS hospital after graduation for nearly 5 years due to difficulties finding senior jobs. Finally found my current role as permanent senior physio late last year.

Jen Williams (Johnson): I got married in August 2012, and I am currently living in Milton Keynes but my husband and I will soon be re-locating to Dubai.

 

 

2008

Kimberley Benoy : Went on to complete an MA at the University of Liverpool in Archive and Records Management. Now working as an Archivist at Teeside Archives. In April 2013 I will be marrying my Keele Sweetheart Robin Starkie, my forensic lab partner. 

Amy Brennan: Got stuck into work with a geo-consultants 6 months after leaving, been here ever since. Made some amazing friends. As a side-line have sold pet food/treat concepts to Pets @ Home and am working with them to improve conditions for the small herbal animals both food and entertainment wise.

Jessica De Freitas (Green): After my 3 years at Keele, I went to do an MSc at the University of Bradford. During my last months there I bought a ticket to Hong Kong and travelled Asia for 1.5 years. Now, back in the UK, I’m married and we’ve recently bought a house in Ashbourne.

Amanda Faulker: Currently working as a physiotherapist in Melbourne, Australia.

Kin Fung: Since leaving Keele after my degree and MRes, I’ve ventured into Education. I was a teaching assistant for two years and am about to become a qualified English teacher for secondary schools. My dual honours degree was one of the reasons why they hired me as they want me to use both English and Sociology – my dream job. Thanks Keele.

Jessica Gelder: I am currently working for a teaching agency working in both primary and secondary schools around Leeds. I have also worked for language schools over the summer holidays teaching English and leading activities for foreign students.

Martyn Harris: Returned home to Coventry. Married childhood sweetheart. Worked in Admin for a bit. Off to see the world with my wife.

Rich Hill: I am now working at the University of Roehampton helping to develop the student experience from what I learnt as my time as a sabbatical officer.

Kathrine Jackson: I’ve just finished a PhD focusing on Victorian poetry and am going to start teacher training in September.

Alison Lawrence: I currently provide case management to adults with an acquired brain injury, enabling them to live in the community whilst maximising their independence and minimalizing their disability.

Theresa Li: Since graduation in 2008, I’ve got on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET Programme) and went to work abroad in Japan for 3 years. Now returned back to the U.K., I work at Invest Hong Kong in the London office to promote Hong Kong as a perfect business location in Asia, dealing with businesses in the U.K. who are interested in relocating/expanding their company to Hong Kong.

Matthew Sutton: Living in Suffolk, teaching Geography at a local high school, running marathons and ultra-marathons across Europe. Miss “the bubble” massively!  

2009

 Philippa Douglas: Robert Mogridge (Chemistry & Physics, 2009) and I are getting married later this year (31st August, 2013), after meeting and hooking up at Keele in 2006.

Candida Outridge: I graduated in 2009 and gaining my MA opened doors for me. I look at my work now with a different perspective and Keele helped me to gain that confidence. I am hoping to start a PhD in October – Keele gave me that opportunity – it was one of the best times of my life.

 

Rob Shufflebotham: Returned to the family farm, which I now co-manage.