May 14, 2025
Academic Life
Academic | Performer | Musician | Public Speaker | War Veteran
From Classroom to 99% Need not Apply
My education didn’t begin with flying colours. Just before turning fifteen, I made the decision to join the Royal Marines. At school, I was placed in the “in-betweeners” set—those aiming for CSEs, with a chance at O levels if the teachers saw fit. With my military path already mapped out, I didn’t see the point in applying myself in most subjects—except geography. I figured if I was going to be a Royal Marine, reading a map seemed like a sensible skill to master. I left school with a single Grade 1 CSE in geography (then equivalent to an O level). The rest were Grade 2s, and physics—I used to think what is this all about and gained a Grade 3.
Proving the system wrong
Still serving in the Marines, I realised that O levels in English and Maths were essential for promotion. In my early twenties, I knuckled down and passed both. After years away from home, filling downtime with forgettable books and even more forgettable films, I began seeking a more meaningful use of my time. In 1989, I started studying psychology through the Open University. I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in 1995—the same year I received a medical discharge. Not long after, I began teaching A-level psychology part-time and started an Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapy.
Looking in a Mirror
In 2000, I embarked on a Master’s in Counselling Studies, which became a pivotal moment. It ignited my curiosity about how veterans and their families are represented in media and research. My dissertation became an autobiographical reflection on transitioning from military to civilian life. That journey led me to begin a Doctorate in Education (EdD) in 2006, focusing on creative research methods. The result was a film capturing my return to the Falklands, 25 years after the conflict. I was awarded my EdD in 2010.
Today and Tomorrow
Today, I’m recognised as an expert in the social and cultural narratives surrounding veterans and their families, with a particular focus on how creative methods can help reshape those stories. I’ve published journal articles, contributed to academic books, and continue to conduct research with projects like the Military Afterlives Project and the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded “Stories in Transition.”
May 14, 2025
May 14, 2025