Your full name:

Robert Douglas Picken

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Chester and lived in a village called Kingsley in Cheshire. 

Education:

I went to a school called Helsby High School, which looked across the Mersey to Liverpool. I studied English at Newcastle University and did my PGCE in English at Oxford University.

Your previous role and place of work:

I have worked in a few places over the years - Hereford, Didcot, Japan, Knutsford, and most recently Monmouth in South Wales, where I lived for fifteen years. I was a resident tutor in the boarding house for nine years, Head of English for six years, and a Head of Year at different times too.  

What are you most looking forward to about your new role and working at King’s Ely?

I am fortunate to really enjoy my subject, so I am looking forward to focusing primarily on English; it is a pleasure to get to know a new school with such an incredible history. I thought Haberdasher’s Monmouth School was old until I came here! I have been really impressed with both the staff and the students.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I suppose I really wanted to be a football player (for Liverpool) when I was at school. My heroes were John Barnes, Ian Rush, Jan Molby, and Kenny Dalglish. Later, I wanted to be a writer (and still a football player/rugby player).

Hobbies/interests outside of school:

I love reading, writing, hiking, cycling, travel, live music, cinema, and I enjoy going to the gym more than I used to now that I have had a knee replacement!

Any pets?

Yes, two dogs (sprockers) called Sprocket and Hattie.

What is your favourite meal/food?

I like Japanese food – two of my favourites are ramen and katsu curry.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

I am not great at languages, so I think I would like to be able to instantly speak all the languages of the world fluently.

Who is your hero?

In sport, apart from Liverpool players, it was Martin Offiah when he played rugby league for Widnes - he had electric pace. The American writer, James Salter, would be a literary hero.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Nothing fancy, just keeping going, one foot in front of the other, like a marathon runner, when life can chuck some tough stuff in the way.

What was the last book you read?

'A Mountain to the North, a Lake to the South, Paths to the West, a River to the East', by László Krasznahorkai. I enjoyed some of it!

What song are you most likely to sing at a karaoke?

I would be hard pressed to call my caterwauling singing but I will go for ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ by the Beatles. 

What is your favourite film?

‘North by Northwest’ by Alfred Hitchcock is a classic.

Do you have any phobias or fears?

I am not great with heights.

If you could share a meal with any four individuals, living or dead, who would they be?

Georgia O’Keeffe, Raymond Carver, Neil Young, and Diego Maradona.

Name three things that you would want with you if you were stranded on a desert island for a week:

A good quality hike tent, a book of short stories by Richard Yates, and a dog for company!