I was born in Lambeth, south London, 59 years ago. I started to read the Guardian in the mid-1970s, mainly because I began to notice that the colleagues and friends I tended to find most interesting were readers. I wanted what they had in terms of breadth of opinion and knowledge of current affairs and the arts.
Before retiring in 2013, I taught for 36 years in Croydon. The Guardian helped me to develop a rich background of ideas and creative thought, which helped me whether delivering A-level English courses or teaching children in pastoral or special educational needs settings. Book and theatre reviews were always so helpful in supplying background material for class discussion.
The Guardian has always had immense courage and has been utterly persistent in its pursuit of corruption and the encroachment upon our freedoms. I became a Quaker four years ago and appreciate that speaking truth to power is what this newspaper has always done in the face of criticism and threat.
The paper is unfailingly well-written, innovative and beautifully designed. The Saturday edition is a joy. I love the Family section and in particular Annalisa Barbieri’s sound therapeutic advice. Sadly, I find that some pieces in the Guide are now way out of my league age-wise. Never mind, I can live with that. I understand the need to appeal to younger readers, and popular culture moves on apace.
I always look forward to anything by Hadley Freeman and Sali Hughes as they manage to write about fashion and beauty in an interesting but not too reverential way. Recently, I enjoyed John Crace’s great piece on the “hermetically sealed environment” that is Westminster – a glimpse of life in an alternative universe. Stuart Heritage and Lindy West are both great in G2. My family mainly browse the sport pages, particularly for the football commentary, although last year my eldest son found brilliant articles in the science section on topics such as the green deal and eco building practices really useful for his BSc dissertation in quantity surveying.
As a recent convert to Twitter, I follow both the Guardian and @commentisfree and I enjoy adding my voice to debate if I can. In short, I remain a reader of the Guardian as, quite simply, the paper enhances my life. I wouldn’t be without it.
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