From Keele to photography adventures | 17
Thom’ s bond with Keele and his fellow students has continued long after graduation.“ I’ m still in touch with Keele friends,” Thom says.“ The first thing I did when I got back on campus recently was take a photo outside Barnes K Block and send it to all my old flatmates. I’ m a few months away from heading to the wedding of one of my best friends who I met at Keele in my very first year.”
Reflecting on the broader impact of his time at university, Thom credits Keele with broadening his horizons.“ As a working-class kid from the Black Country, university introduced me to people from all walks of life. While a degree is important, I think the real value of university – especially Keele – is in the relationships it fosters. Those connections and experiences have played a huge role in shaping my path.”
Returning to campus recently to lead an Industry Voices session in Keele Business School was an emotional and uplifting experience for Thom.“ It was amazing to be back! I arrived a few hours early just to walk around campus and soak in the nostalgia. It was fascinating to see what had changed, and what had stayed the same.”
During his visit, he was particularly struck by the entrepreneurial spirit of today’ s students.“ When I was at Keele, being a freelancer or running your own business was quite rare, whereas today, nearly everyone seems to have a side hustle in mind. It was great chatting with current students about how they can turn those ideas into reality.”