For 45 years I worked for Connells Estate Agents, starting my career at 2 Temple Street in Aylesbury in 1977 and ended up being Chairman. What a journey that has been – from a 20 branch regional business to today, the biggest UK Estate Agency. I’m now retired as of the end of December 2022 so this is a new chapter for me. I’m still involved with Connells as a consultant but on a small scale basis so life for me now is to do all of those things that I suppose have been aspirational things that you don’t get round to doing with a full time job.
Back then, you were in the minority not going to University. Why did you decide to take an alternative route?
I did my O’ levels in 1975 and then started the Sixth Form in 1976 and did 3 A levels. At that time not everyone lasted the course at Sixth Form but those who did, virtually without exception, sat A levels and got good grades and inevitably went onto university.
I didn’t know what I wanted to do, no idea other than I knew that I didn’t want to continue with education or go to university. I knew generally that I wanted to get into a career, a job where I could genuinely make a difference by my endeavour and effort.
I was offered a job by Lloyds Bank on their management training programme, the salary was good, Lloyds Bank was a good organisation but the job sounded as dull as dishwasher.
I didn’t want to have a career where I had to be there forever to make any progress, I wanted a job that was exciting and one with some variety and most importantly of all a job where there were opportunities for me to progress quickly based on my ability and endeavour.
I didn’t because I didn’t want to, I had had enough of education at that point and I wanted to get out into the big wide world and forge myself a career.
At that time, I heard that Connells the Estate Agency in town were looking for a Property Negotiator, I didn’t even know what a Property Negotiator was but I turned up for interview and was interviewed by two of the most charismatic people I had ever met and within 20 minutes they had me hooked!
One of the things that’s an enduring memory from school was, (and it was quite difficult to get to terms with when I first came but you very quickly got it) that life doesn’t just happen to you, there was an ethos in school that you are the master of your own destiny.
What opportunities do you think AGS provided you with and how did you embrace them?
That manifested itself here very simply. Now, I’m probably going to get it wrong, as KD Smith and LJ may have put it another way. But the way it read to me was: the fact that you are here means you are reasonably bright, you’ve got a bit about you, but what you do with that intelligence is up to you. You can just do enough to get by and you’ll be fine, or you can stretch yourself to realise your full potential and then the world is your oyster.
In amongst all of this you can often lose sight of other aspects of life which is about enjoying life and having fun. I didn’t spend all my time working hard with my head in a book, nothing could be further from the truth!
Any advice for your former self and perhaps for our current students today?
I spent a lot of time on the sports fields, rugby and cricket both for School and House competitions. I also played football and cricket for my village. I developed great friendships from here. And I still have half a dozen good friends that I went to School with, we still see each other regularly, play golf, still laugh at the same things.
I often find when talking around this subject, particularly when I’m talking to people who are on that journey, they often have a view and a vision which is a great thing but sometimes they miss the thing that is right in front of them and trip over it.
What does success look like to you?
If I go back to my career, I never had any view when I started work for Connells in 1977 that I would one day become the Chief Executive and then the Chairman, I just wanted to be really good as a Property Negotiator.
I suppose another way of putting this is that your end objective or end goal, whatever that might be, is a series of much smaller things.
Then when I became a Branch Manager, I just wanted to be a really good Branch Manager, and then when I became a really good Branch Manager someone would recognise that, and make me something bigger and better -and that’s what happened.
That focus about being really good at the task in hand is often overlooked by people.
I thought if I’m really good at that job and I’m in the right organisation where people get recognised, then my career will look after itself.
My grammar school (Walthamstow High School for Girls) in East London was my salvation! It lifted me out of my loving, but totally unacademic, working-class background. Hence, I am very much in favour of Grammar Schools, particularly for pupils from less privileged backgrounds. which goes against my otherwise liberal principles!
However I didn’t cover myself in glory at school. I blame Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, Love and numerous other amazing groups. How could I possibly not go and see them play live? Open air concerts were free then!! As a result, my studies suffered. My worst A Level result? German!! But I just loved the subject, largely thanks to my charismatic German teacher!
University
Very few people went to university back then, but I managed to scrape in and will be eternally grateful to Ulster University for accepting me, because it was there that I discovered that I did actually have a brain! I studied German & French and spent my third year at the university of Freiburg in the beautiful Black Forest. This intensified my love of the language, country and people and I became fluent in German. Not through my university studies, but because I spent Saturdays & holidays working in the men’s shirts section of a huge department store!
Aylesbury Grammar School
I joined AGS in 1990, where the intelligence & originality of my Upper Sixth class actually scared me. Yes, Chris Price & friends, I was in awe of you and didn’t know whether I was up to the task. Guess I must have been, as I stayed for 25 years.
German was and still is for me a passion. I was always, and still am on a mission to convert any pupil I could. Becoming Head of German in such a wonderfully supportive and awesomely well-run school, gave me wings!
AGS gave me the freedom and opportunity to organise an incredibly diverse range of activities, all designed to make languages come alive. Some of them were: The truly amazing Stuttgart Exchange in conjunction with AHS, the fun study trip to Cologne for yrs 8 & 9, the fascinating Berlin Study Visit for the 6th Form, the Languages Food Fair and the Arsenal Double Club German Scheme.
Of course, teenagers being teenagers, those trips to Germany were not without their hair-raising moments. But I would like to thank all you young men who joined me on these adventures and made them so much fun.
I have taught in 5 educational establishments, and despite retiring, am still teaching in another one, because I have a serious addiction (to teaching German!) AGS is without doubt the most amazing of all. Its values, the staff and the pupils have a special place in my heart, which is why my own boys were AGS pupils and why I am thrilled to be involved as a Trustee Governor. It is fully deserving of its “Outstanding” Ofsted evaluation. The SLT is unfailingly supportive, which is absolutely vital
If your leadership team is not effective or supportive, look for another job!
Over those 25 years I am overjoyed to see that AGS has developed into a tolerant, diverse place of learning, where everyone is free to express themselves, while respecting the school’s intrinsic values.
FLOREAT AYLESBURIA!
What does success mean to you?
Success for me means every single pupil (I remember you all) who over the years became infected by my enthusiasm for the subject and shared in the pleasure of studying it. Many went on to study the subject at university, and even live & work in Germany/Austria/Switzerland. One of them even took over from me as Head of German (Mr Sloane!) I love teaching teenagers, they are funny, original and interesting and the young men at AGS are so respectful, thoughtful and a joy to teach
If you are in charge of a team of colleagues, a sense of humour works wonders, but more importantly, when they do anything well: praise, praise and praise!
Success for me was also the honour of being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for the teaching of German, presented by the German Ambassador & the UK Secretary of Education. My colleagues at AGS are incredibly hard-working and dedicated and many of them deserve a similar award. But I was fortunate to be nominated by my colleague (Jane Richards) and supported by the then Headmaster Stephen Lehec. But what’s really exciting, is to be the only woman (as we go to press) whose award is displayed in the main corridor of the school!
How did AGS inspire you in your career or interests?
The environment at the school to celebrate success regardless of whether it was within or external to the school always encouraged people to peruse their passions. I came to the school for sixth form and it was great to see how well I was respected by teaching staff for what I was doing within triathlon. They would always ask how I was doing and always tried to support me. Teachers would work around my international competitions and set me special work to do whilst away from school so that I didn’t fall behind or miss out. This was vital for me because as a student athlete your studies must come first!
Were there any opportunities at school that lead you on your current path – how did they benefit you?
Being able to train specifically for my sport during games periods. It was also great to have the opportunity as students of the school to use the gym during lunch times with the supervision of a teacher.
What is your best bit of advice?
Have the confidence to go after what is important to you!
What does success look like to you?
Someone that tries their best particularly with something that challenges them.
One of my favourite quotes:
“The most inspiring person is the one overcoming the fear of doing something, not the one who is excellent at it.”
I’m currently Associate Professor of Aviation and the Environment at Cranfield University, and I also consult mainly as an Expert Witness in court cases related to air accidents, and fly as a test pilot on various projects.
University and course
BEng Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Southampton, 1992
PhD, Aerospace Engineering, University of Southampton, 2005
PGCert Teaching and Learning in Further and Higher Education, Brunel University London, 2008
Life after AGS
From AGS, I went to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough (now part of Qinetiq) where I was a Student Engineer (some might have called me a Student Apprentice) learning aeronautical engineering, prior to my going to the University of Southampton to do my BEng. Through that period I did summer placements within the defence estate, then finally about nine months after graduating I got my first permanent position as a “Trials Officer” (Flight Test Engineer) at the Boscombe Down military flight test centre. Whilst at Boscombe Down, I also started to learn to fly as a pilot at the local flying club.
How did AGS inspire you in your career or interests?
It encouraged me with a work ethic, and the mentality that I could pursue multiple things. I was never encouraged to set low limits for myself, or to allow myself to be shoehorned into narrow areas of activity that were just what the world thought I should do, rather than suited my own dreams, plans and ambitions.
Were there any opportunities at school that lead you on your current path – how did they benefit you?
Not specifically, it was much more about the overall environment and culture, sense of not accepting limitations, and just a very good general education.
What is your best bit of advice?
Set yourself ambitious goals for your life, and identify and pursue what you need to do to try and achieve those goals. You might not get there, but almost certainly the path, and your eventual destination, will be in things that suit and satisfy you. Don’t be afraid to shift your goals through life, but don’t become directionless – as at that point you will end up doing what’s convenient for others, and not what is best for you.
What does success look like to you?
Achieving things I care about, and I believe leave the world better for my actions – whilst at the same time managing to live comfortably, serve my family and friends well, and maintain my own health and wellbeing.
I’m presently working towards my next “big things” – a new masters degree course in flight testing, pushing forwards the frontiers of zero-emission powered flight, and a historical graphic novel on the R101 airship disaster of 1930.
Are there any interesting facts about you that you would like to share
Whilst I started my career as an aeronautical engineer – and am both a Chartered Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineer, I’ve also qualified in several other professions. I’m a qualified commercial pilot (and also a test pilot and flying instructor – I’ve logged time in 115 aircraft types, and commanded 78 of those so far), a research scientist, a writer (so far three books and about three hundred articles), an Expert Witness, and a martial arts instructor. As Robert Heinlein said, specialisation is for insects!
I’ve achieved a few career “highs” that I’m particularly proud of. In 1999 I was the technical scriptwriter and recruited the teams for the first episode of the TV series Scrapheap Challenge to feature manned aircraft. I was the Mission Scientist on board the first flights into the volcanic ash cloud that closed all of Europe’s airspace in 2010 – and subsequently was invited to the House of Commons to explain what we did; in 2014 I published “Initial Airworthiness”, now in its second edition: the first textbook on the process of assessing new aeroplane designs for safety and fitness for service. In 2022 I was the test pilot who made the first flight of the Sherwood eKub: the first British designed and built all-electric conventional aeroplane.
Author and poet. Lifetime service.
Life after AGS
After school I attended Queen Mary University of London but didn’t finish my degree. I later got onto a Masters course at Royal Holloway on the basis of my publications – my first book of poems and critical articles, and finished that with a distinction.
Next steps after university / school
I spent most of my twenties working in skateboard and record shops, trying to get various bands and musical projects off the ground, and probably quite secretly, and sporadically, writing poetry. Once the bands had all withered – members having kids, getting real jobs, feeling too old to get on stage – I started taking my writing more seriously and things took off from there.
How did AGS inspire you in your career or interests?
I definitely had a couple of the stereotypical ‘influential English teacher’ type relationships that all writers seem to have. Mr. Piggford and Mr. Mead specifically both sharpened my sense of what literature was capable of doing. But I think my art teacher, Mr. Milsom, was also important, he taught me things about art-making that I still think about to this day. The importance of ‘finishing’ work, and beyond that, the idea that being an artist of some kind is actually even a viable option. Something to take seriously, to dedicate your life to. My memories of the school are hugely positive on that front overall – there was an environment of permission, of potential.
Were there any opportunities at school that lead you on your current path – how did they benefit you?
I think the institution itself represented the sort of opportunities that mattered to me. A well-stocked library and teaching of the highest standard, fellow students who relished learning, teachers who didn’t always simply talk down to your own evolving intellectual ideas. Of course this all comes with the caveat that it’s a huge shame that opportunity isn’t available to everybody.
What does success look like to you?
I never thought I’d publish a word of my writing, let alone make some kind of a job out of it, so I’m happy with how things look right now.
What is your best bit of advice?
In writing I’d say to anyone starting out to always remember that their material is language itself. If you think you haven’t got anything interesting to say, or a story worth telling, or a subject matter epic enough, it’s because you’re looking at the thing all wrong. It all starts and ends with words.
In life, which I’m rather less sure about, remember that one seemingly bad turn in the road doesn’t have to last forever, and that in fact there can be many paths to the spot you want to get to.
Are there any interesting facts about you…
I can’t think of any ‘fact’ really, though I’d say I’ve had a very interesting life thanks mostly to the other people in it…
Currently an AGS Governor and Foundation Trustee, Lee Cobley studied Mechanical Engineering at Bristol University (1977-1980), before undertaking a PGCE in Maths and Science at Brighton Polytechnic in 1983. After University, he enjoyed two years each of design engineering, teaching English in Finland and Japan, and teaching Maths in Sussex, before embarking on his 34-year career as an RAF Officer.
“I would like to highlight two areas, over and above the excellent education I received, where I believe AGS benefitted me. Firstly, the AGS squash team and coaches inspired me to take up the sport, an interest that I maintained after school, organising matches and tournaments in the RAF and Bucks League, enjoying great camaraderie for well over forty years. Secondly, the House system allowed me to captain various teams and to become Deputy Head of House, which gave me invaluable practice in leadership and motivating people, which I put to good use in my military career”.
Lee rose to Wing Commander in the RAF and was responsible for overseeing the quality of Training, Education and Development across RAF units, inspiring service people and their families to enrol on all types of courses.
“My advice to anyone is to get involved in as much as you can, over and above your school-work or your job. Not only will your life be more interesting, but you will also learn new skills in communication, leadership or people-management, which will help you progress further.
As family man, and a life-long educator, success for me has often been making a positive contribution to others’ success, be it my children’s or that of the servicemen and women I have had the opportunity to train. I now have the very rewarding responsibility of overseeing the Induction of new Governors, helping them put something back into AGS. I wish all the boys and staff the best of times at AGS: study hard, but also participate in, organise and lead as many sports and clubs as you can manage, both in and out of school”.
