Matthew Farrow

I look back at my secondary school years at MHS between 2005-2010 with great fondness. I distinctly remember my first day in Year 7. I was incredibly nervous but was greeted by my form tutor Mr (Peter) Watson (may you rest in peace), who was one of the most passionate and bubbly people I have ever met. I immediately felt at ease.

I developed a huge passion for sport at MHS and enjoyed the extensive physical education and extracurricular options available. I spent many hours after school, playing badminton and volleyball, and made some great friends doing this. A stand-out memory was being able to play badminton with Gail Emms MBE at the end of years awards ceremony. Whilst I pursed a career in a completely unrelated area, I will always remember history lessons with Mr (John) Edwell. His ability to deliver sometimes dull information in an engaging and fun manner was unique.

In Years 10 and 11, I began to gain an interest in science, I enjoyed carrying out practical experiments with Mrs (Janet) Smith and developed an interest in how organisms and the human body functioned in biology. This led me to study Biology, Physical Education, Mathematics, in addition to Modern History at The Sixth Form College. I continued to develop my badminton and volleyball skills and had the chance to compete in regional finals. After leaving college, I combined my passions of biology and sport, by studying Sport & Exercise Science at the University of Bath. Here, I also later completed a PhD in Health, investigating the effect of upper-body exercise on health markers in manual wheelchair users. I recently moved to The Ohio State University in the US, to work as a post-doctoral scholar and further pursue research which aims to improve the quality of life and chronic disease risk for individuals with spinal cord injuries.

I can honestly say that some of the teachers I had at MHS have been the best educators I have encountered over my many years in education. The enthusiasm for their subject area was clear to see and this was key to making lessons enjoyable. They helped me develop a passion for learning which I still carry to this day.