User:Tonyryan7

Anthony Ryan's Page on Wikipaedia
I was born in September of 1958, the youngest of a large family. I grew up with the sound of music ringing in my ears as my Dad played the saxophone in a local dance band, and could pick out a tune on mandolin or banjo. My oldest brother was very musical and went on to study music to Ph D. level. He played piano, organ guitar, most things really. All of my other brothers and sisters played a musical instrument of some sort or another.

Infant and Junior Schools were connected to the church the family went to St. Peter's in Dagenham. From there I went to The Campion School in Hornchurch, and was quite successful. I then went on to the University of Aberdeen, where I studied Psychology from 1977 to 1981. It was also in Aberdeen that I got married for the first time.

After University I worked in the Social Services Department in Aberdeen in a hostel for single, homeless men. It was a horrible place, sometimes violent, usually smelly, and it was the best thing that could happen to it when it was closed down.

In October 1984 I started at the Foresterhill College of Nursing (now part of Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen) to study Mental Health Nursing. I qualified and began to work in the Ross Clinic (now demolished). After a brief stint in Rehabilitation, my area of work not my need for guidance and support, I managed a project for the Richmond Fellowship as part of the drive to move people from hospital to the community. After a hiatus, I left and began to look for a new job.

After a while, I joined with some friends and formed Lethen Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. This was not as successful as I had hoped and, as a result, I was declared bankrupt. This was the end of my stay in Scotland, and packing my things into the back of a transit van, I drove down south, after being rescued by my sister.

After a while, I returned to Nursing and got a job in Pembury hospital, where I met Cathy, the mother of my only child. My stay 'down South' only lasted as long as I was bankrupt and as soon as I was discharged, I moved to Hull. In Hull I started working for Select Recruitment working as a Supply Instructor and eventually getting a job in Wilberforce College teaching Psychology and Science. It was during this time that I met and married Barbara. Barbara has always been religious and when we met she was a reader at St. Nicholas Church in Hull but eventually she went for, and successfully completed her ordination and is now Curate at All Saints Church in Hessle. I was fortunate to have a one year contract converted into a full-time contract and I stayed there for 10 years before taking redundancy in July 2012.

Since leaving Wilberforce, life has not been too brilliant. I tried, in vain, to get a job in Education and the only job I could get was a Casual job at Sirius Academy invigilating exams. In between times I worked Supply teaching on days that I could. There were also periods of time where I 'signed on'.

In September 2013, I started a part-time job at Wyke College driving a minibus ferrying students from near their homes to and from College. My route involved going over the Humber Bridge to Lincolnshire every day. Because of some management decisions, the minibus service was pared down and several of the drivers lost their jobs, including me. So it was back to 'signing on' and working Supply when I could.

In October 2014 I started a new job with Hull and East Yorkshire Mind as a Night Warden. I work in a hostel that houses people between the ages of 16 to 35 who are suffering mental health problems. Because I work Nights and Week-ends, I do Supply work on my days off.

I do have a website but I have not posted a link to it as there is nothing on it at the moment, but that will change, I am sure.

So that brings you almost up to date. However, I have recently developed the ambition to become a Maths Teacher. A bonkers idea you may think, but watch this space.