From Bookbinding to Biology - Trading an Ancient Art for an Ancient School

I came across the art of bookbinding in the bookshop Foyles in London. Inadvertently this began a love of an ancient art form  that I would study for years to come.

I became fascinated by the skill that went in to each and every hand-bound book, particularly that of fine leather binding. From then on I pursued education in the art of bookbinding wherever I could find it, from 18th century manuscripts to modern day City & Guilds courses. 

After approximately two years of study, I was hired by the Society of Bookbinders and founded Landymore Bookbinding, where I focused on hand-binding university theses for PhD students and professors who wanted to memorialise their hard work for years to come. In this time I worked with numerous companies. One of my favourites was Romney Tweed, where I bound books in tweed from my home village for members of Kent County Council, most notably The High Sheriff of Kent.

I know that bookbinding will always be a skill that I will cherish, but was well aware that my future lay elsewhere. I am truly delighted that since beginning my career in education I have been able to bring this ancient artform with me to King’s.

Whilst at school I had initially thought that Medicine was the path for me, but work in King’s Hospital in London in the liver transplant unit and labs showed me that I was more interested in the lab side of Medicine than the healthcare portion. 

During my Biology studies at university, I discovered that I really enjoyed presenting work to my peers and when working on my thesis studying anterior cruciate ligament injury, my academic advisor recommended that I suited teaching. After graduating, I looked for a job in a secondary school right away and found an opening at King’s.

In my interview to join King’s, the former Headmaster, Peter Roberts happened to be a bookbinder as well. This pure coincidence was a welcome addition to my decision to join King’s. Being able to run bookbinding courses as well as binding some books for colleagues and more recently producing a hand-bound Book of Remembrance to be used in the November Remembrance Service each year has been fantastic.      I have now been at Kings for five years and have enjoyed my time here immeasurably. I have been involved in so many aspects of the school in my time and will remember King’s for my entire life, having met my incredible wife during King’s Week. However, I still feel that there is a plethora of knowledge about the place that I am still to learn. King’s has become my home with MO at the epicentre. 

Meister Omers is a truly unique boarding house with a group of pupils who surprise, impress and make me proud daily. What makes an MO pupil unique is their kindness. They are to a man thoughtful and respectful of those around them be it peers, staff, or members of the Canterbury community.