Your Durham Inspiration

Do you remember why you first chose to study at Durham?

It was already top of my list on reputation alone, but about five minutes after I got off the train for the open day, I walked across an ancient stone bridge with morning mist coming off the river and fell in love with the place!

Tell us about any sports, societies or clubs you were involved in at Durham.

I fell in freezing cold rivers a lot with the university Canoe Club, played tuba loudly - and occasionally in tune - in the brass band, and played drums for Grey & Trevs Big Bands.

What work or moment were you were most proud of at Durham?

It has to be graduating - the huge feeling of achievement at the end of your studies, mixed with excitement about what’s coming next, is impossible to beat.

What are your fondest memories from your time here?

The sun always miraculously arriving just in time for Grey Day, partying in tents in sub-zero temperatures with the canoe club, and making the sort of friends who are with you for life.

How has Durham inspired you to get to where you are today?

Being around so many brilliant students and lecturers, on my course and in university life in general, really drove me on to always do the best I could.

You

What have you been up to since you left Durham?

I have been working as a software developer at TPP in Leeds, helping to build clinical software to support every branch of the NHS.

What are you doing that is most meaningful to you now?

Professionally, working with the rest of the company to develop and roll out new tools, from apps to dashboards to new ways of sharing data, to help the NHS meet the enormous challenges brought by COVID-19.

Tell us about your latest news or developments.

My wife and I have recently become parents to a wonderful baby daughter, who’s growing faster than I ever thought possible! I’ll be bringing her up to Durham for her own open day before I know it…

Is there anything from Durham that has stayed with you and still inspires you now?

The knowledge that staying determined and putting in every effort can push you past the hardest obstacles, not just in your course but throughout your future career and adult life.

Personal interests

Cycling, which was a great way of staying fit in the Escher staircase of Durham’s hills. Uphill to get there and then, somehow, uphill on the way back too!

Pass It On

What would be your top piece of advice for current students and/or recent graduates?
&
Is there anything that you know now that you wish you’d known when graduating?

Don’t be afraid to take the plunge, make mistakes and try things out. You’ve learned so much already and you’ll learn more with every year that passes – your education up to here has given you the best possible start, but it really is only the start.