SMT Profiles # 2 – Adam Warren meets the Bursar, (with Patrick Vickers)
There isn’t a single element of the school he doesn’t look on. He is the ever-present, occasionally seen, soon-to-be-leaving, bass guitar playing, Harley Davidson riding, American Football Playing, Oxford Graduate, Football Chief executive, Bursar of the Royal Hospital School and he was, in late November (sorry for the delayed write-up), interviewed by Patrick Vickers and myself for the second SMT Staff Profile…
The Bursar’ office is somewhat similar sized to Mr Dixon’s, except he has a table and six chairs for meetings, unlike Mr Dixon’s green leather sofas. His receptionist is also based outside his Office, not 14-or-so feet down the corridor.
We opened with the absolute classic – “what did you do before RHS?” – Now, as it happens our very own bursar has led an incredible career. After leaving Oxford University, he spent much of his time designing night clubs in the UK. Famously in 2001 one of his night clubs won ‘Club of the year 2001’. He also worked as chief executive of Preston North End Football Club. He most notably gave David Moyes his first job in football – and look where he is now! Or at least where he was until his career went belly-up. Mr Church claims his Bursar position has been the most fulfilling, unlike the “political” nightmare that is football directorship.
We moved on to his media interests. Mr Church was big into the 70s punk rock scene, with particular interests in groups like “Damned”. Nowadays, his music tastes are massive and “ecliptic”, with his new genre including Scandinavian black metal. He describes it as being, “too far on the scale of hard-core”.
His favourite film is “Heat” (1995) with his favourite TV show being “The Walking Dead”, which he describes as being “brilliant”. He is also a big ‘Breaking Bad’ fan.
Sport was the next topic on the agenda, as his biggest passion after music (by the way did we mention that the bursar plays the bass guitar in a band!). Mr Church adores pretty much every sport there is, rugby and cricket to SpeedWay. Whilst at Oxford University in 1989 the bursar founded and captained the Oxford University American football team in their first varsity match against Cambridge (which they won). As well as this he is a New England Patriots fan since 1985.
Academics was up next on the Agenda. The bursar informed us that he only ever got one B, and that was in French, he said;
“He [SJD] only got a C, didn’t he? So, my worst was better than his worst!”
At O level he got 7 As and the rest were A*s and he got 4 As at A level. Throughout his school life he despised science, dropping it at the end of year 8 with a U in his internal exam.
With reflection on his impact over his career at RHS, Mr Church said that he had achieved what he had planned to achieve, with refurbishments of the Dining Hall and the Sports Department.
We talked some more asking awkward questions about fees which Mr Church directed towards Mrs Braybrooke, Director of Communications…
Our second, SMT Profile was fascinating and has allowed us to present to the world another insight into the lives of those at the top of Staff List, the Senior Management team.
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