CAREERS AND AWARDS
OP JODIE HODGSON( 94-01) SHARES INSIGHTS INTO HER ROLE AS A CONSERVATOR
On 10 February 2025, Pocklington School’ s Art & Design Centre welcomed OP Jodie Hodgson( 94-01) as part of the Pock Connects programme of careers talks and conversations. Jodie, a Conservator, spoke to students and staff about her profession.
Drawing comparisons to the type of conservation and restoration projects featured on the BBC’ s The Repair Shop, Jodie showcased examples of her work using original paper and parchment documents, including a 17th century parchment indenture from the West Yorkshire Archive Services’ handling collection where she currently works. She explained the processes and materials used to restore these documents, emphasising the importance of proper storage and environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and light, to ensure their preservation. She also highlighted the necessity of specialised cleaning processes to remove mould and monitoring insect pests, which can cause significant damage.
Jodie highlighted the skills necessary for a conservator, including patience, creativity, attention to detail, calmness under pressure, and a high level of technical skill. She said:“ Knowing that you are working with priceless, historic artifacts and seeing the positive impact restoration work can have on damaged objects is highly rewarding; it is very satisfying to finish a piece knowing that you have played a part in preserving it and ensuring that it can be enjoyed by future generations.”
James Stathers( 86-95), Head of Design expressed his gratitude, saying:“ We are incredibly grateful to Jodie for coming in to talk to our students. Working as a conservator is a career that might not immediately spring to mind for our students, yet it is a fascinating field which demands a keen eye for design and excellent craftsmanship. Thank you to Jodie for sharing her knowledge and passion with us and for helping our students discover an exciting new career option!”
Jodie shared her career journey, starting with a degree in Archaeology, Anthropology and Art History at the University of East Anglia followed by a Postgraduate Diploma and a Master’ s in Conservation of Historic Objects at Lincoln University. She then completed an apprenticeship with York Glaziers Trust, where she spent nine years as a Stained-Glass Conservator specialising in medieval glass and working on York Minster’ s £ 11.5m Great East Window project. Although her expertise lies in glass conservation, Jodie has experience with a wide range of materials, including archaeological artifacts, ethnographic and social history objects, stone, vessel glass, ceramics, stained glass, and archival materials such as paper, maps, plans, parchment and books.
EXPLORING INTERNATIONAL CAREER PERSPECTIVES
On Tuesday 10 June 2025, OPs Roger Leung( 90 – 98) and Charles Funnell( 82 – 87) were warmly welcomed back to School, where they shared their career journeys with students as part of the Pock Connects Bitesize programme.
Roger, who is based in Hong Kong, has over 20 years’ experience in the food import and export industry, with a particular focus on meat. He was keen to talk to students about the dynamics of international trade, and the unique way different markets and cultures operate globally.
Charles studied French and Politics at the University of Bristol before embarking on a successful career in commodities. With more than two decades of international experience— first with major corporations and later as an
entrepreneur – he offered students valuable insights into his career path. Charles also championed the importance of language learning, highlighting the personal and professional advantages it can bring in opening doors and building trust across cultures and industries.
Head of Pocklington School, Toby Seth, commented:“ We are incredibly grateful to Roger and Charles for sharing their experiences with us today. Their stories not only inspire our students but also highlight the strength of the Pocklington School community and the lifelong connections forged here. It was particularly uplifting to hear their stories of working and living abroad; Yorkshire is a fantastic place to live, but there’ s a whole world out there waiting to be discovered!”
If any OPs would like to find out more or get involved, please join Pock Connects on LinkedIn, the official group for members of the Pocklington School community, by scanning the QR code below, or email opoffice @ pocklingtonschool. com.
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