Mammal tracking kit, work materials, and small keepsakes

I’m the ‘Internal Communications Manager’ at University of Lincoln. It’s pretty cool and I’m dead proud to be in the role to be honest! I help shape university communications; the platforms, different types of comms. It’s 100mph all the time and I get to work with different people across all parts of the organisation!

I like things to look good, be accessible, and be transparent - but I also always want to bring a bit of fun!

Previously I was the ‘Estates Communication & Engagement Lead’, and also part of the Sustainability team. Sustainability has always been something really important to me.

In 2021, I started the Green Gown Award winning ‘Festival for the Future’ (formerly ‘Climate Action Festival’), to engage people with climate action & advocate for sustainability. When we’re planning, I try to be democratic and make sure everyone’s ideas can be heard - and in the festival 90% of events are usually free and open to the public.

I suppose I’ve always been interested in how to engage people, making sure that we’re always communicating and having conversations about what’s important.

Poetry journals, printed text work, and written music notes

I’ve written poetry since I was 11. My first poem was one about how my cousin was like a crumpet: warm, buttery & kind.

From that point on I started caring more about language, writing and reading poetry; Byron, Emily Dickinson, Carol-Ann Duffy (whom I have met twice!)

I often struggled with negative emotions & ptsd, so poetry is like therapy.

I keep these journals and write in them back to front - so they’re not chronological - but they map the feelings & relationships I’ve had. Sometimes I can write 3 in a day, other times I don’t write for a month - it’s got to be real - you can’t write a good poem and lie.

I’m also a self taught musician. Music lessons weren’t affordable growing up, so I picked up a guitar aged 16, and now I play ukulele, mandolin, banjo, I sing, and occasionally write songs. I’m an Alto Tenor, and perform in a trio. Sometimes it’s terrifying, but mostly it’s cathartic & fun - I’ve decided to do more of the things I love while I can.

A DSLR camera, equipment, and printed images

Looking for a job as a graduate is difficult because so many jobs ask for ‘significant experience’, but how do you get that experience? One way is through an internship, but these often involve working for free - which not everyone is able to do - especially if you’re from a working class background.

If I wanted to gain experience, I figured I may as well set up a project on my own terms, so from 2014-17 I co-created & ran ‘Little City Creates’, an instagram page & blog, highlighting what was going on in Lincoln. It taught me that you don’t have to wait for someone to give you the permission to make things happen.

I learnt about social media, got to develop my photography skills, we even ran pop up exhibitions & events. I also interviewed some amazing people, which made me more confident when meeting new people. I made a lot of friends through these interviews - and even my future wife…

A balloon piece, romantic keepsakes, and a small portrait object

I met Rosie when I interviewed her for ‘Little City Creates’, and for our first date she took me to Lincoln Lawns, made me a picnic of all my favourite things, and literally created the moon (out of a balloon on a string) - she’s always been romantic.

She’s an artist and ‘amateur mycologist’ which means she’s well into mushrooms - which unhelpfully I’m allergic to - so when she got into it, I was worried she was either trying to break up or murder me!

After putting other people first for a long time, I really felt like she saw ‘me’, she encouraged me to grow, didn’t minimise my feelings, and has been a constant support. She’s silly, funny and my best friend - we got married in 2025 and even after 9 years together I’m still feeling that spark. With her, I know at the end of the day, everything is going to be alright!

A walking aid, personal photographs, and a small keepsake

Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHMD) is a genetic muscle wasting disease. It’s pretty rare, but prevalent in large families. My Mum was diagnosed in the last decade, & I was diagnosed in my late 20’s. That’s actually a relatively early diagnosis.

It affects mobility, physical strength and energy levels, so I can’t carry heavy things, stairs can be difficult, and going on outdoor walks can be risky. Nothing keeps me away from nature though!

It’s been emotionally challenging, and some days you feel sorry for yourself, but it’s sooo far down the list of things that are interesting about me. It’s definitely taught me how resilient I am, and I certainly have a better grasp of physics!

I’m currently on a medical trial to map its progression using motion capture and AI - I hope the data can be used to understand the disease and treat others like me.

Family photographs, personal chosen objects, and odd socks

I have a cool Mum.

She is a central point for our family, is often the loudest person in the room, and constantly smiles a big cheesy grin on camera.

She runs The Anti-Bullying Company. She has been through a lot and come out the other side. She is outspoken, empathetic, kind, compassionate and that’s incredibly inspiring to me - we are very similar.

Now in spite of her also having FSHMD, she doesn’t let it define her. Even on dark days she sees a world full of small joys and big light. She loves with “big love”, and isn’t afraid of big feelings. My Mum will always be my biggest cheerleader and I know I can call her no matter what.

Childhood photographs, a worn book and everyday objects

When I was young, I experienced and witnessed neglect and abuse by a biological family member. I cut off contact as soon as I could, but it had a big impact on me, I felt shame and a lack of self worth.

There was no resolution or apology, and during my teenage years I didn’t know how to talk about it - but I started to meet other people who had similar experiences. I found that sharing experiences and how we’d moved past these dark spaces, could be helpful to other people on their journey. It’s important to be able to talk about these things.

I have healed and found a light at the end of the tunnel. I feel like now I’m the person that little girl deserved to be, and nobody else gets to define me or take away who I am. It has given me the foundation of what is right and wrong, and the confidence to call out unacceptable behaviour.

Placards, pride items, flowers, and wedding elements

In my final year of Uni, I remember campaigning for gay marriage.

Now I’m the co-chair of the University of Lincoln LGBTQIA+ network, and I have a wife - which is something that growing-up, I never felt I could have.

Realising and recognising your sexuality can be a joyful process, but is often spun as a negative one. Though my own ‘coming out’ wasn’t so joyful - I now make the choice to be actively visible, protest, advocate, support others, and challenge narratives.

I think people can have a very short memory when it comes to rights, and in light of how the world is currently treating LGBTQIA+ people, and rolling back our rights - it feels more important than ever to be visible and not dim your light.

Feather collection, well-used tools, and small found objects

I’ve always had an affinity with nature. From a young age, I could always tell where wildlife had been, so I started animal tracking a few years ago. I have delivered workshops on how to identify different tracks and signs at the University, and am now a founding member of the ‘Lincoln Mammal Group’.

Seeing wildlife in its habitat is pure magic, and it requires a level of patience (that people don’t often expect me to have). It’s not about having the best kit, but I love taking photographs, and writing about my experiences in my wildlife journal. Most of my tattoos are nature focussed too!

I’ll take you on a city safari, and can tell you where to find fox cubs, badgers, deer, kingfishers, even owls - hold on - I’ve heard there have been some otters spotted by Brayford Pool - let’s grab our cameras and go, you have to move fast with these things!!

Pin-striped waistcoat , accessories, and personal adornments

At Pride in London, Mary Portas once tapped me on the shoulder and said she ‘liked my style’ - so now I’m totally qualified to be giving out style advice. These are my top tips:

1. Don’t be afraid to be colourful, coordinated, fun, and sometimes silly! (even chaotic!)

2. Don’t save things for ‘best’! Why own it if you’re not using it? If you love it, wear it!

3. Instead of ‘fast fashion’, try to shop sustainably & ethically at vintage shops, charity shops, even Vinted/Ebay! Vintage clothes have lived a life before you, and treated right, they’ll live beyond you.

4. Also, if you’re going vintage, don’t be afraid to mix up decades

5. If you wear Jewelry, it should be sentimental or thrifted!

6. If you wear socks, make sure they’re matching something else in your outfit!

I’d describe my personal style as ‘Dopamine Dressing’, and I always go all out when I’m going out. The best compliment I ever had was at a Chappell Roan concert when I was wearing a full 1950’s circle skirt & petticoat - I felt really cool - and someone said I looked like a “gay Mary Poppins”!