Ayton, Andrew

Andrew Ayton

Dates at Bournemouth School: 1970 - 1977
House: Twynham
  • Prefect

Andrew today

Andrew studied: History, Geography and Economics
Andrew received the following accolades whilst at school:
  • School colours for hockey

After school, Andrew went to: University of Hull, to read history

Andrew's biography:

Read history at Hull, 1978-81, where I stayed to do PhD in later medieval English history. Crucially for my later career, this involved creating computer databases of medieval source material. After a brief spell away from academia, to returned to Hull in 1985 to join the project computerising Domesday Book. I taught innovative ‘Computers in Teaching Initiative’ history courses there & was appointed to a lectureship in history in 1989. I taught English & European medieval and military history; a course on medieval Hungary was particularly notable at the time. I have published & edited several books (‘Knights and Warhorses’, ‘The Battle of Crecy’, ‘The Realm of St Stephen’ etc) & many book chapters and journal articles. Additionally, I have contributed to various TV & radio history documentaries, most recently ‘In Our Time’ on Radio 4. Married in 1995; two granddaughters; early retirement in 2015; living in rural Staffordshire.

What was best about Andrew's time at Bournemouth School?

Comradeship (and shared pastimes – ornithology, fishing, music, sport); intellectual stimulation; team sports; excellent sixth-form library.

Who does Andrew remember most fondly?

Friendships with boys from very different social backgrounds. I might be naive, but I don’t think my my working class background was much noticed my (many) friends from my affluent backgrounds.
Many of the teachers, but especially Mike Webb, who was a form master for a couple of years and an excellent geography teacher.

What would Andrew change about their time at Bournemouth School?

I’m tempted to say: ‘not make a mess of Oxford entrance’ (I must have been a great disappointment to Mr Rogers and, especially, Mr Lenton), but in fact not getting into Oxford was the making of me. I went to a superb history department at Hull, where I later did a PhD and became a member of the lecturing staff.

What is Andrew's favourite anecdote/most vivid memory?

Going on a school trip to the D-Day beaches in Normandy. Bowling figures of 6 for 8 for Twynham in a house match (I really wasn’t that good at cricket). Waking up to hear that the school had been badly damaged by fire (loss of the old school hall). Attending history lectures by Christopher Hill and Maurice Keen.

Andrew's final thoughts

Reflecting on my life: a key to success is to identify what you are really cut out to do. I have an academic mind: I analyse and categorise everything. I’ve often wondered, if Mr Webb had suggested doing geography at university, whether I would have ended up measuring the movement of glaciers or barchan dunes. That’s me.