Career Talk

12th January 2023 Career Talk – Gerry Short

Gerry began suggesting that giving an Irishman the opportunity to talk had its dangers, so he had tried to divide his proposed talk into various sections in an attempt to bring some discipline. Ireland, London, Education, Further education and NOW.

His story began with the man who was to become his father, Patrick Short, who lived in the North and wanted to become a priest, but got TB. He survived his spell in a sanitorium, to be then told Ireland did not want priests who could not be classed as 100% medically fit, so he decided Teaching would be his career and went to Scotland to be trained. Meanwhile a young lady in the South joined a Silent Order of Nuns, quickly realising it was not for her and again decided teacher training in Scotland where she met Patrick and the rest is history. They went back to Ireland to a border village called Aughnacloy (field of stones) with a population of around 800. Sex lessons came early for Gerry, starting with an explanation from his mother about ‘where babies come from’ when he was 7. I will not go into the details of Gerry’s disclosure, but it obviously fired his imagination and interest as he trained to become a biology teacher! Obviously there were ‘troubles’ in a Border town, but despite his father becoming the Head teacher at the primary school, they survived

So Gerry gets to Grammar school, but as time progressed was told he was unlikely to become University material, which inspired him to work harder and applying to 23 Universities and Polytechnics. He put University College London as his first choice, presuming he would not achieve the grades required, he really wanted to go to an Irish University. But he got an offer from London and despite trying to refuse it was told it was a ‘contract’ so had to accept. Being Irish, he soon put his mind to the positive benefits of London; lots of English girls, but within 2 days of his arrival he met the lady who was to become his wife, so no other exciting liaisons! Then it was time for Teacher training colleges, and Strawberry Hill was his choice, but others had said the interview process was tough and not his strongest ability. However, he had a very informal chat with the principal who happened to be in the same order of Priests (Vincentians) that Gerry’s former teachers were in, so the ‘old boys’ network’ operates in religious organisations too!

They married in 1983 when he started teaching in Dagenham, Ladies Sacred Heart Convent where sex education came to the fore again, to 11-year-old girls with Gerry (a married man) and Sister Lorna were responsible.  At the school they had “Themes” each week, so when Fox Hunting came up and naturally none of the girls were for it he would support the motion in a debate. However, one of the girls reported him: “that only B*st*d Short likes to kill foxes”. They were living in East London when his wife fell pregnant with their daughter, so probably a good time to move. He tried Carlisle, Bournemouth, Wolverhampton, but managed to get a position at Grantham FE College. He moved up alone at first and managed to get a Council House tenancy, although a cold property his Scottish neighbour lit his boiler for him. It was not an easy start when one of the students explained to the Head of Department that Mr. Short had cut his finger on his penis…which was true, when moving a plastic model of a penis he did catch his finger! But he became a tutor, with staff, did his Masters and became Head of Faculty, managing money and resources. He progressed to Vice Principal at Brooksby (Agricultural) and Melton (performing Arts) College. This is where he joined Rotary as the Principal, who traditionally was expected to represent the college, asked Gerry instead.

Unfortunately, at this time his wife was diagnosed with Cancer, so he decided to take voluntary redundancy so he could spend time with her and take her for all her appointments. However, he was offered a consultancy role with Homefield College, a community based independent specialist college offering education and independent living skills for people with learning difficulties. When asked to write a specification for a new principal, he thought he might apply. Although unsuccessful he was appointed Director of Funding and Development, which he thoroughly enjoyed and when the lady principal left, he was promoted. When he had started there the bank balance was at £12k, rising to £2m, with 30 growing to 75 students when he finally retired, when his wife finally passed following 12 years of Chemo.

Although he had become a grandfather, he decided he wanted to travel and spent one occasion at Lake Bled, Slovenia, where he was the only male accompanied by 17 females! Here he met a lady who lives locally who has become his partner.

President Rob gave the Vote of Thanks explain that it was a very entertaining delivery of a lapsed Catholic who had built a great career based on interview failures, but emerged smelling of Roses and obviously enjoyed his time in education and the members joined enthusiastically showing their appreciation.    AR