What are you up to now? Jeremy Leach

What do you miss most about being a student?             

I guess 'miss' isn't the right word. I loved the freedom, the social life, the crazy antics, the camaraderie, DJing in the JCR, trips to Glasson Dock in the summer, Boddinton's beer!

What was your favourite place on campus?       

The college bar was definitely a social meet-up point and was run by a middle aged guy called Cyril! The Junior Common Room (JCR) was also a great hang-out place, offering snacks and drinks during the week and discos midweek and Saturdays. As mentioned before, Glasson Dock was also a great place to hang out in the summer.

How does your life now compare to what your 21 year-old self imagined?      

I have never been a planner, S.Martin's was really a happy accident in that I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I was 'head-hunted' in my final year to go and work in a residential school in Kirkby Lonsdale and that experience was the springboard for the next 20 years.

What’s the most useful thing you learnt at uni you still use today?             

Without sounding too pretentious, I guess it would be the ability to extrapolate, to select relevant information from all the background noise.

What’s the one song that takes you back to uni days?

It would have to be December '63 by Frankie Valli and Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel by Tavares - I used to dedicate the Tavares song to my girlfriend Sue while I was DJing.

Briefly explain what you do in your job...

I am generally retired but as a PADI Divemaster I make underwater videos to accompany the PADI students' courses for some of the dive centres in La Herradura during the summer months. Also as a qualified gym instructor, I instruct a group of friends five mornings a week.

What does a typical day look like?             

A typical day would be the gym from 8-9 in the morning then breakfast with the gym guys in one of the beach cafeterias, playing with our dog on the beach, home for chores, maybe lunch with friends. My partner is a singer in a local band so some evenings and weekends we are busy entertaining in bars and chiringuitos.

How did you get from graduation to where you are today?      

There was never a career 'path'! After my first job in Kirkby Lonsdale, I mostly worked abroad, Canada, USA, Mexico, Seychelles, Lima, Malawi and Spain, I did my PADI Divemaster qualification and my Private Pilot's Licence in Malawi, I briefly returned to the UK and became the web designer for Truro College in Cornwall before returning to Spain to live once again.

What are you currently reading, watching, or obsessed with?             

I love scuba diving in the Costa Tropical, the gym and keeping fit are also important to me, outdoor life is the norm in this part of the world which means you are constantly, coincidentally meeting up with friends!

Give us your top tips, fave eatery, fave shop, or fave walk...   

There are SO many beautiful places on one's own doorstep it is easy to ignore them thinking that there will always be another day to explore them, I would suggest that today is that day!

What's your idea of a great weekend?     

A lazy, early morning (because it's cooler) walk on the beach with our dog, meet up with friends for a loooong Spanish lunch then live music in one of the many beach bars .

What are you most proud of?         

More than anything I guess I'm proud that I made the decision early on, to live, work and explore the world. Also I retired at 52, bought a tumbledown farmhouse which had no mains water, no bathroom nor kitchen set in the hills between Granada and Cordoba and spent 5 years renovating it with my partner, doing all the building, plumbing and electrical work ourselves, it was a mammoth task but taught us a lot about ourselves.

What words of wisdom would you give your student self?      

Without being too clichéd I would say carpe diem, take risks, explore, both yourself and the world around you, people say you only live once, not true, you only die once, so live every day!

LINK LINK LINK!        

Some of my scuba videos! Watch here.

Where I live. Watch here.

We would love to hear about your student days and what you have been up to since, complete your 'What are you up to now' here.