It was wonderful to connect with Mark Ashby recently – Class of 1980 

Upon request, he sent through to us the following about his post-TWGSB life, but showing clear formative influences from that time: 

‘I left Tunbridge Wells Technical High School for boys (as it was known then) in 1980 with three science A levels. An academic career awaited me. 

I went on to King’s College London to study Biochemistry.  

After a year doing part time work,  I did an MSc at the University of Sussex in Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, followed by a PhD at Imperial College London in Molecular Biology studying photosynthesis genes in purple bacteria.  

Later I did a research fellowship at the University of Auckland studying thermophilic bacteria where I had research fellowship positions at Queen Mary London and University College, continuing my studies of photosynthesis, this time in Cyanobacteria (a type of bacteria that make their own food, using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce energy and oxygen, much like plants do.) 

Then followed lecturer positions at NESCOT and the Mona campus (Jamaica) of the University of the West Indies where I ran my own Cyanobacteria research team. While there, I taught Microbiology and Molecular Biology courses. Two of my research team got their PhD’s.  

Between 1986 and 2006 I had 14 refereed publications, including a final one in the world’s leading Microbiology journal. 

I took a five-year break in the early 1990s to train as a teacher and taught Science and Chemistry at a large comprehensive school in southeast London.  

Since returning from Jamaica, I have worked at Capital City College, a very large further education college (coming up to 20 years), teaching applied science on vocational BTEC science courses. I also work for Pearson Education as a Standards Verifier on their BTEC applied science courses. 

I have always tried to maintain an active life outside of work.  

I currently play bass guitar at a church in Dartford, where I am also one of the musical directors. I started playing, thanks to the influence of two former TWGSB classmates (Alan Clarke and Nick Mooney) who wanted to form a band.  

I also maintain my own bass channel on YouTube (mashby bass).  

Sportswise, I have been a member of Cambridge Harriers - a southeast London athletics club, as a middle and cross country runner as well as a team manager a number of times.  

I look back to the influence of my former PE teacher (Dave Madin), encouraging me to run. I was only a reasonably good club runner,  but then had more success as a veteran athlete. I am the 2004 Jamaican masters 800m champion, 10th in the 2008 European M45 1500m final and in 2024 became the M60 British 3K race walk champion indoors and outdoors.’