It's a small world
Mr Davies meets an old boy
Marcus Brigstoke with John Davies
Sometimes at Teaching Awards events the education world can suddenly seem very small - people are connected in all sorts of ways and coincidental meetings often happen.
For John Davies, winner in the South West of Special Needs Teacher of the Year, the stand-up comedian at our Saturday night drinks party turned out to be his ex-pupil, Marcus Brigstocke.
So, when his old boy came off-stage John, who is now head of Combe Pafford School in Torbay, tapped him on the shoulder and soon they were in deep conversation. 'I had been excluded from three schools,' Marcus said later, 'and I was at a special school full of kids like me. Mr Davies took the time to listen to us. He taught me geography and he was a very cool guy.'
John Davies remembered Marcus well. 'He was naturally funny and he and his friend were super-intelligent. He did make me laugh - often at the wrong moment - I've always remembered that.' As well as a successful career in comedy, Marcus now has a passion for environmental education and has visited the Arctic with Cape Farewell, a cultural response to climate change involving artists, writers, scientists and educators.
A queue of TA fellows lined up to pursue his offer of visiting their schools. Marcus was unphased but pleased: 'It's never happened to me before - my old teacher coming up to me after a show - but it was all an absolute delight.'
