With slightly frayed jumpers, once-read books left to yellow on the shelf behind their desks, and the distant, but not totally abandoned hope that people will stop calling their subject boring, your ‘average’ history teacher sounds like exactly the wrong sort of person to interview. For some time now, the stereotype of History and the people who teach it has bemused me; in part because as a self-professed lover of history, I could never understand what was boring about the subject, but also because whilst surely there are history teachers out there who match the previously described stereotype, as far as I’m concerned, the teachers at JCG (history and otherwise) bear no such resemblance.
Not unlike the other members of staff across our College, the two we interviewed here have both lead lives filled with interesting stories to tell. So in the interests of getting to know them a little better, and getting the answers to some big questions; here is our interview with none other than Mr Bidmead and Mr Herbert.
Our discussion began, perhaps a little predictably, with the question, “What is your favourite period in History?”
True to form, Mr Bidmead knew his answer straight away, and began to describe his reasoning in great detail; his first answer being Ancient Greece. The juxtaposition between the immense philosophical and academic discovery in this period, compared to the remainder of social constructs that would appear relatively ‘backwards’ (at least to the modern eye) is fascinating to him. An honourable mention goes to his brother, who gave him the book (Historical fiction ‘The Lion of Macedon’ by David Gemmell) that sparked his interest in this area.
For Mr Herbert, on the other hand, it was harder to choose; he mentioned how as opposed to his ‘favourite’ period in history, the one which he finds most interesting to study is the Second World War with a particular focus on The Holocaust. An understanding of how people survive in such atrocious circumstances, and listening to the testimonies of survivors is certainly a topic that needs careful consideration and thought.
“If you could choose any dinner party guests from throughout history who would you choose?” (Dead/alive)
With his interest in American politics, Mr Herbert was sure his guestlist would have to include Abraham Lincoln, and indeed this would make for something of an interesting political conversation given his other guests, namely Winston Churchill, Dr Martin Luther King, Margaret Thatcher and former leader of the UK Labour party Clement Atlee.
Some other big names in politics would make it to Mr Bidmead’s dining table, this time with a rather more dictatorial flavour; Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Benito Mussolini and Neville Chamberlain. This being Mr Bidmead’s primary response, he also felt the party would be incomplete without the addition of King Charles II, Vladmir Lenin and Emperor Julius Caesar.
As mind-boggling as it may seem to some, our teachers have lead, and continue to lead very interesting lives, and their stories are often fascinating. To anyone who hasn't been taught by Mr Herbert, it may come as a surprise that he spent 10 years working for the Anti-terrorism department of the Metropolitan Police and was once a semi-professional tennis player; in his words, “a man of many mediocre talents”. Despite his humbleness, it seems that there are few things that he can't do.
As for Mr Bidmead, who jokingly mentioned his own sporting prowess at this moment, we discovered that we had a ‘Sixth Form Football second XI player of the season’ in our midst. (further details on the validity of this statement can be found by emailing r.bidmead@jcg.sch.je). In a more serious tone, we learned about Mr Bidmead’s volunteer work with his wife in Nirobi. Their work was centred around running an orphanage that provided education for the children as well as sheltering them.
Mr Bidmead’s TV and Film favourites include;
The Green Mile, 1999 film based off the Stephen King Novel of the same name, is a story that follows a prison officer during the Great Depression (Tom Hanks) who encounters some suspicious supernatural activity after a new inmate arrives.
The Shawshank redemption, 1994 film also based off of the writing of Stephen King, needs no introduction.
His TV recommendations include some cult (historical) classics Peaky Blinders, Blackadder, Faulty towers and Arrested development.
Please check age ratings before watching these!
Mr Herbert’s fan favourite has to be Field of Dreams, the 1989 film starring Kevin Costner, a film that also includes elements of the supernatural, and a plot following an Iowan corn farmer/baseball fan. Any further favourites of his are ‘anything written by Stephen King’.
In terms of music, Mr Bidmead mentions his fondness for experimental jazz, the American artist Trent D’Arby, and the occasional bit of Taylor Swift – eclectic to say the least.
And if you’re ever required to break a door down in a police raid, Mr Herbert suggests Jump Around by House of Pain as a warm up song, but alternatively he can be found listening to American protest music from the 60s.
And lastly came the all important question; “What’s your best piece of life advice?”
The true Swiftie that he is, Mr Bidmead was quick off the mark with, “haters gonna hate” and quickly followed up by adding that, “you have to believe in yourself, because if you don’t nobody else will.”
Mr Herbert’s wisdom included a reminder to “get ready for reality,” a phrase that will feel all too familiar to those of us soon to leave school. He also mentions the importance of enjoying life, looking on the Brightside, and “travelling to broaden the mind.”
So there you have it; from a shared love of Stephen King, to some potentially interesting political dinner parties, the Iconic duo from middle-floor Roberts has been revealed. All jokes aside, I hope that these interviews might help us all remember and appreciate how lucky we are to have such wonderful teachers here at JCG - their wisdom and kindness seems to have no end.
Have a teacher who you would like to know more about? Send us an email collegecloud@jcg.sch.je or drop us a dm on Instagram.
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