What did you enjoy most about your time at Sidcot?

Making friends from different countries and trying new things like rugby and pottery. Growing up in a small country like Brunei Darussalam, coming to Sidcot opened my eyes to a wider world and endless opportunities. Even if Sidcot was called “The Island”, it was certainly bigger than where I came from. 

What were your favourite classes? 

P.E, Geography and Business Studies. I liked subjects that helped me understand the world around me. 

Which lessons were you less keen on? 

That’s easy. Math, it was always a struggle. 

What / who inspired you to follow a career in broadcasting?   

BBC’s Justin Webb came to the School to speak when I was there. He spoke about the responsibility of journalism in terms of the subject matter of the stories and also the audience watching at home. I remember feeling that his return to School to share his story was a noble pursuit.  A twist of fate in my early 30s led me to a career in journalism.    

How did your time at Sidcot prepare you for your career?

I was fortunate enough to be trusted with roles of responsibility at Sidcot. From being a Senior, to captaining the First XV to being Head Pupil. This meant I had a lot of interaction with teachers, staff and students of all ages and backgrounds. Through these interactions, I learnt a lot about different perspectives and viewpoints while always looking for ways to move things forward.  

What achievements are you most proud of either in your career or personally?

At Sidcot, I was very proud of becoming captain of the First XV having never played rugby before. Unfortunately, a serious knee injury in my final year stalled my rugby career though I did eventually play for and captain the Brunei National Team when I was 30.

Proud isn’t the right word to describe how I feel about being a journalist. I am trusted to cover significant global events which is a responsibility that gives me purpose and I find this incredibly rewarding.