Who was your most influential teacher? Why?

Mr Grant my English teacher was given the honour, this time last year. He was cool, no doubt about it.

But today thinking about those days I can’t honestly remember a thing he taught me. I certainly wasn’t singled out.

What does come to mind are pictures. I can see him striding into class, all shoulder-length hair and long legs. A coudory jacket moleskin trousers, desert boots.

I also remember his presence very well.This steadiness I have been writing about recently. He was from a lifetime ago,but today I can finally see it was what he brought to the room. And this is something I’m appreciating in fellow humans right now. That calmness.

There is a degree of unhinged I like too. Not in a chronic way. Just a flash of it, now and then is fun. Creatives do that well. It’s the light getting in

So, thank you, Mr Grant, I’m sure you taught me plenty in the short time you were at my school. I was gutted when you left.