High school was an interesting time in my life for the fact that it gave more useful life lessons than the lessons the usual subjects ever could have given me.

The school I went to was on the edge of a local government housing estate, with many of the kids that came from there were the sort who were quite happy to sit on the dole for life. The way they behaved was as though the world owed them everything without the work most others put in to make a good life. This drove me then, and still does now, to not be in the position where I am sat on the dole and, if I am, to get work really quickly.

The same people also taught me that you should be civil. You may positively hate someone for any number of reasons, but do you really need to start an argument? Leave well alone and be civil if you can’t-why make life harder for yourself.

Finally, I learnt that there was a big world out there. Why stick to the same old dismal, grey northern English town with nothing to offer when there is sun, great food and interesting places to experience?