Year 7

My name is Richard Allenby. I am from Leeds in Yorkshire, England. I have been teaching in schools for ten years and have taught in: England, Thailand and Egypt. I qualified as a teacher in the humanities field but have also taught English up to G.C.S.E. level.

I am married to Shotika; have two children (now adults and living in the U.K) from a previous marriage and one stepson who will be joining us in Phuket shortly.

I became a social worker in my twenties and worked in various roles with young people within the social services sector. By the 1990’s I felt I needed a change and took myself off to university as a mature student, graduating in 1994 with a Bristol University degree in Theology. I returned to youth work for a few years before undertaking more university, studying in Birmingham U.K. for my teachers qualification (P.G.C.E.).

I enjoy watching football (I used to play until it became too painful) and support Leeds United from England. I have a passion for music and play the guitar. My lifelong hobby would have to be motor biking and I have ridden many types and styles including super sports 850cc, sit up choppers and 125cc Scoopi-i.

I am very happy to return to Thailand following a spell in Egypt and am excited by the opportunity of teaching the students at Headstart.