Archives: Staff
Mrs S Besly-Quick
When did you join the RGS? September 2014.
What’s the best thing about the RGS? My Teacher Training role means I get to go to loads of awesome lessons in lots of different subjects. That and the cakes in the staff room!
What excites you most about coming into work each day? Seeing my lovely, bonkers, wonderful Tutor group.
If you could change your name to anything, what would it be? My James Bond Secret Cinema alias was Juniper Binks, and I was rather fond of it.
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? To have the main school holidays in January and February instead of summer.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? My knitting and a lifetime supply of cryptic crosswords.
What animal most reflects your personality? A quokka – sun-loving, a bit weird and constantly smiling.
Mr A Poon
When did you join the RGS? January 2015
What’s the best thing about the RGS? It’s a really short commute and feels like home.
What excites you most about coming into work each day? Not knowing what challenges the day will bring, but knowing I’m part of a team who’s ready for anything.
What’s your motto in life? Why leave it for tomorrow, when you can do it today.
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? To have superman-like powers! It would sure made all the event set-ups much easier!
What luxury would you have on a desert island? Either an endless supply of crisps or a mobile air-con unit attached to my back! I hate the heat.
What’s your favourite film and why? Impossible to pick a favourite film, but give me any 90’s action film and a big bag of popcorn and I’ll be happy!
Mr L Holland
When did you join the RGS? I joined the RGS in 1986!
What’s the best thing about the RGS? The quality of the teaching staff. I have been fortunate to have worked with some extremely bright and inspirational teachers over my many years at the school. I have also made some good friends.
What excites you most about coming into work each day? I love teaching Physics and Electronics; I am passionate about the subject and am lucky enough to be in a brilliant department in a school where Physics is still extremely popular.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? A golf course, golf clubs and an unlimited supply of golf balls!
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? Five afternoons of games, playing golf!
Mr I Wilkes
When did you join the RGS? I dare not say but we still had chalk!
What’s the best thing about the RGS? The people.
What excites you most about coming into work each day? Everything… I am very excitable.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? A photograph of my wife, daughter and our two dogs… in no particular order!
What’s your motto in life? ‘Smile in the morning and the world smiles with you’; it was in a fortune cookie I had years ago.
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? New knees.
What animal most reflects your personality? Spaniel (working cocker).
Dr E McEwan
When did you join the RGS? September 2018
What’s the best thing about the RGS? The way that it makes you feel welcome straight away, nothing is too much trouble and everyone is ready with a friendly word or a helping hand.
What excites you most about coming into work each day? The prospect that, at some point, one of the boys I teach is going to say something hilarious. They have a great sense of humour and hearing what they come out with is definitely an incentive to turn up to work every morning.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? Soap and some kind of sand blasting machine, I can’t stand sand.
What’s your favourite film and why? The most recent film I really enjoyed was ‘Onward’. A great story that was both funny and pulled at the heartstrings, classic Pixar.
What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? I had a meal once that consisted of moussaka followed by gooseberry tart, eating them both was awful.
If you could be any cartoon character who would you be? Flint Lockwood from ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’, I know the machine that made the sky rain food went wrong but how amazing would it be to have invented it!
Mr J Lythgoe
When did you join the RGS? January 2018
What’s the best thing about the RGS? How enjoyable it is to teach (and hopefully learn) here.
What excites you most about coming into work each day? During lockdown? Anything…just please get me out of the house!
If you could change your name to anything, what would it be? I did! It used to be Jaime Noorhaizamdin. Hence, JDNL.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? A Nespresso machine.
What animal most reflects your personality? A meerkat.
What’s your motto in life? Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.
Mr R King
When did you join the RGS? August 2013
What’s the best thing about the RGS? The network of support shown by the RGS community and the opportunity to achieve your goals and ambitions. My extended back garden’s not bad either!
What excites you most about coming into work each day? Working in an ever-changing environment can be extremely challenging, that’s what keeps it interesting. I get to be creative in my job every day and to see the best of everyone on the sports field.
If you could change your name to anything, what would it be? With a name like King, why would you change it? Maybe change my first name to ‘The’ (Elvis lives), but probably should be ‘Jo’!
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? This is probably a stretch on the word perk, but to have a TARDIS would be amazing. If it happens, I’ll be sure to let you know how everyone at the RGS is doing in the future.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? A guitar. At least nobody would be there to hear how bad my playing was. It would have the added benefit of being able to double up as a paddle in desperate times.
What would your autobiography be entitled? ‘Keep off the grass.’ It speaks volumes.
What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? Spirulina. If you can call it food. I was given some in a smoothie once…never again!
What’s your motto in life? Life changes, therefore, so would my motto on a daily basis. So I guess it would have to be ‘Be adaptable, whilst staying true to yourself and others.’
Mrs C Stevenson
Mr M Royds
When did you join the RGS? 2006. Then left for NZ for a few years in 2014, returned very happily in 2019.
What’s the best thing about the RGS? A rare blend of high expectations, humour and humanity.
What excites you most about coming into work each day? Helping people to make their own progress and the privilege of guarding the moral compass of young people.
If you could have one dream perk, what would it be? Climbing trips, but these are already a reality – we’ve run climbing trips to the Alps a couple of times. Deep water soloing and the Dolomites are next on the wish list.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? A longboard.
What animal most reflects your personality? A really dumb cat. Would love to think it’s amazing, but in reality can’t even open a can of tuna.
What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? I really struggle with Moroccan lamb. Hunger makes a good enough sauce for most other things.
