Farewell, John

John first joined the Myerscough staff in the summer of 1983, and over the years has held a number of key positions, including his current role within the college’s executive leadership team.

John first began his journey with Myerscough College on September 1st, 1983 as a lecturer in Farms Mechanisation, progressing over the years to Site Manager at our former site at Winmarleigh, through to Farms Director, Farms & Estates Director, Head of Resources at Myerscough, Director of Resources and finally his current role as Deputy Principal of Resources, which he has held since 2009.

In addition, between 1983 and 1989, John was a college warden, from 1987-1989 Open Day and Country Fair organiser, from 1989-1991 Winmarleigh Horse Trials organiser, from 1991-1997 a member of our research committee, from 1993-95 a course manager, from 1994 to 1997 on the North West Dairy committee, from 1996 to 1997 chair of the Common Interest Group and John's also been chair of the Myerscough College Staff Club.

But it’s not just the almost 42 years that John had worked at Myerscough. He’s also lived on campus for more than 25 years, so John has absolutely been rooted in the college community night and day, 24 hours a day.

We sat down with John as he reflected on his time and career, and shared some of his favourite memories of Myerscough:

Why have you decided to leave now after 42 years, and what’s next?

‘I should have realised when I started what I was getting myself into.

I was supposed to start on the first Monday in September in 1983, and even before starting I got a message to say all staff were expected to attend and participate in the staff in the College Open Day.

So I actually did as instructed and appeared on the Saturday and the Sunday, and that was the first college event I took part in.

It just seems like yesterday that I stepped through the door. Myerscough has always been an incredibly welcoming place. The staff and everybody here are always supportive and I think that's why we've done so much and got to where we are today.

In 1983 the college was a very different place. Yes, I have a fantastic career I've enjoyed having a part in what we've become.

But to be fair, it's not just me, it's the teams that work for me. It's everybody. It's the teaching staff. It's everybody together that's got us to where we are today.

I think the college is at a point in its time where there's a new (strategic) plan coming along, there's a new team in place, so now is just a good time.

We've purchased a small holding in Cornwall. So we've got some sheep, we've got a large garden that needs plenty of work, and we've also got a Shepherd's Hut which we plan to convert into accommodation. It's something different.

We've gone on holiday to Cornwall virtually every year, so we've always talked about it, and then this opportunity came along.

What changes have you seen over the years?

Myerscough was a very different place when I started. It was still part of Lancashire County Council, delivering three year diploma and HND courses, with our site at Hutton delivering one year certificate course and we had our centre at Winmarleigh delivering day releases. You were expected to work at different centres. You were expected to go to deliver day classes out in the county. I joined as part of the agricultural engineering lecturing team. It was much smaller. The majority of the people here were teachers.

I've got an agricultural background, so I was always keen to get involved more generally in agriculture, and I suppose those pathways opened for me. In the late 80s, I went to become centre manager of the Winmarleigh site. And then from there I got more involved because I also took on the responsibility other former site for Dinkley Green, which was the hill farm we had up near Chipping. So there was always lots of variety and lots of different things happening.

And over the years you gradually worked your way up?

I was a lecturer, a course tutor, then a centre manager, and that was all to do with curriculum. But everything changed in 1993 when the college became independent of the local authority, and there was a different plan and there was different things that had to be done and it was really at that point that I've sort of stepped away from curriculum and into management

There was a plan to rationalise everything here to the main campus (at Bilsborrow), our site at Winmarleigh was the first to be sold, so I got the task of disposing of that. We were investing in the main campus here and I had project management skills and knowledge of construction. We then turned our attention to our other former site at Hutton, which is a much bigger exercise to close.

During that phase it was all about development, it was about creating new things and to be honest, that's been a great job. I've thoroughly enjoyed that bit of it, thoroughly enjoyed being involved with the farms, thoroughly enjoyed spending the college's money.

Then the job broadened to have general responsibility for resources. Every day's had a different challenge and it's been great fun. And how many people can say that about their job. I've been incredibly lucky. I don't think I didn't arrive here thinking I was going to be still here in 42 years.

You must have been very proud when our other centres at Liverpool, Blackburn and Warrington opened?

Oh, yes. I've had a hand in all those things. From seeing the centre's concept of the being developed, going out, finding premises, making arrangements, doing all those things, but also being able to muck in when I had to. 

I can remember one time when we ended up myself and the head of engineering at the time going to Croxteth to deliver the first pieces of furniture to the office that the college was opening, heading there with a Land Rover and a trailer, carrying the furniture in.

I've always enjoyed working here because I do feel it's like a team. Everybody at the end of the day, has got the best interests of the college at heart.

We were honoured to welcome Her Majesty, the Queen, for a visit to our Lodge Farm in 2015, what do you remember of the day?

Who would have imagined in your career that you were going to get the chance to meet the Queen, and show her around where you work. That was great. It was just a great experience in its entirety because you know how many other people become involved in the planning of such an event, which then impacts on the whole county.

What's made my job so interesting is that you would never imagine that you would be doing something like that. But when you're going to police headquarters to be part of Gold Command and planning the event, it's a different experience!

Do you have any particular favourite memories or proudest moments that you can share?

There are so many, a whole variety of the things you wouldn't normally do.

I do believe we did a pretty good job at spending the budgets we had and what we’ve invested that money in. It’s really allowed us to deliver the curriculum that we've got. I suppose that's when you step back and think, we haven't done too bad.

But really, the bit I like the most is just seeing everywhere continuing to thrive and develop and seeing the staff in areas become so enthused about what it is they're doing. And really, it's great to be able to help with that.

And what will you miss most about coming to work every day?

I think being feeling part of that, that being feeling part of that team. Feeling part of the overall college family and being part of it all,

I've always felt that the teams I've worked with, whether it's principalship team, leadership team, that everybody's in it together and working together. You never feel you’re the only one who's having to deal with something and that I think that makes a difference.

We are in a fantastic place, with a great outlook going forward in the future. The college is in a really good position. I'd like to step back up now and keep watching the college and see it continue to thrive and grow.

And I really do hope that everybody has a good a time working for Myerscough as I have.

One of John’s first Principals was former head of Myerscough, Tony Fox, who remembers him fondly.

Tony said: ‘’Myerscough has always had a reputation for being a family.

‘’I remember when John first came. A Northern Irishman. We were looking for a machinery lecturer and John was keen tractors and cars, so we took him on. Little did we now that he would still be here more than 41 years later!

‘’But John’s has always been an absolutely great supporter of the college. He's a farmer is John, and that's what I always liked about him. That's why you've seen the number of jobs he’s done. He wasn’t bothered about fancy titles, he just did the job.

‘’He’s always been a stalwart, and he’s always put Myerscough first.’’

Everyone at Myerscough College and University Centre wishes John and his family all the very best and good luck for the future.