to this page since 1 August 2004.
From 2000 - 2004 I was Head of Secretariat and, in particular, responsible for:
My other main interests, apart from cricket (Kent C.C.C.), birdwatching
and the "wooden walls" navy, are in classical music, the Carolina Panthers American Football team and UK politics. I have supported Leeds United through thick and thin since I first saw them play, at Charlton, on my 14th birthday. But now, living within easy reach of Crewe Alexandra's ground, I am what was at first a Championship (aka First Division) season ticket holder. ("This is unlikely to produce a conflict!" I wrote in 2002/03, but since then both teams' fortunes have fluctuated. (I shall say nothing in public about the events which led to Leeds' parlous financial position.)
In 2004/05 and 2005/06 I had to contemplate two meetings in the season. Surprisingly the Alex took 7 points out of 12. Then in 2006/07 Leeds lost their Championship place while the Alex played with promise but more than a little youthful inconsistency in League 1 (once the Third Division), so that the nightmare scenario came to pass and the teams met again in 2007/08 in the third tier of domestic football. Leeds began with an extraordinary 15 point penalty, equally extraordinarily erased by October. Unfortunately Leeds failed at the final hurdle of the play offs, while the Alex suffered a very disappointing season, only securing their place in the division for the next season on the final day.
So in 2008/09 the two teams are again in the same, third division. (Crewe now had 8 points out of 18 from their league meetings, and so did Leeds: until a September meeting at Elland Road, ending 5-2 in Leeds' favour :(.) Leeds are very strong favourites to go up, and of course I hope they will. Ideally, though they would have to play again the next season too, Alex would join them, but honestly, now (October 2008) I would love to settle for a respectable mid table finish, and another chance the next year: survival is sadly our priority, and nothing more ambitious than that. March 2009: Thanks to Gudjon Thordarson we may be going to do it ..... Watch this space. But we didn't ... It's League 2 (aka Division 4) in 2009/10, and Leeds are still stuck in League 1 as well. In a year's time I hope for both to have been promoted!
I was for several years a member of the University Chapel Committee,(Secretary 1992-96, Vice-Chairman 1998-99). I am still Joint Wine Steward of the University Senior Common Room, having served some years ago as Chairman, and am responsible for the SCR's web pages.
I currently Chair the Governing Body of Newcastle Community High School, now known, following award from September 2007 of Specialist Science College status, as NCHS - The Science College. The school is near the University campus, and I have served there as a Governor since 1981. In October 2005 I commenced a four year term as representative of Newcastle-under-Lyme Secondary Schools on Staffordshire Schools Forum, which has just acquired its own web site. I am now the Secretary of the North Staffordshire Branch of the Classical Association, whose web pages I maintain, as I do that of All Saints' Church, Madeley, [above]. Since April 2005 I have been a Churchwarden there and lay chairman of the PCC.
In May 2007 I became a Labour member of Woore Parish Council in Shropshire, where I have lived since 1999, and currently serve also as Chairman of the Council, which I represent on the Market Drayton Area Local Joint Committee. I am also the Secretary of North Shropshire CLP.
In 1996 I married Susan Deacy, now a Lecturer in Greek History & Literature at Roehampton University. She was a Lecturer at Keele in 1995/96, and has also held Lectureships at the Universities of Leeds and Manchester. Susan co-organised an extremely successful international conference on Athena in the Classical World, held at Lincoln College, Oxford from 2nd to 4th April, 1998, arising from which a book was published in early July 2001.
I love visiting North and West Wales, especially Borthwnog Hall (right), the English Lakes, Rhodes (on honeymoon), Corfu and South Carolina, (where I used to stay with my friends the McNaughtons). David McNaughton was my Best Man, and his Inaugural Lecture as Professor of Philosophy at Keele is available here. He now works at Florida State University. Since retirement I have added the South of France, the Loire Valley, Florida and Catalonia to my collection.
If you wish to e-mail Stephen,
click here.
To go to North Staffs CA Home Page here.