Adam Spink (1994 – 2001) is a BA (Hons) International Business – Nottingham Trent University graduate whose post- TWGSB academic interests included Business Management, Psychology and Accounting. 

He began his career in Financial services – on a Group Finance Graduate Programme moving on to retail with the John Lewis Partnership Leadership Graduate Programme. Today he is a man able to say he was not shy to take career breaks (taking two of these) to reassess priorities, learn, and change direction. Today he is happy to have experienced time in numerous sectors including hospitality, tourism, charity and local government – as well as managing time for both volunteering and fundraising for favourite causes. 

When we asked Adam about a highlight or two at TWGSB (or even better - a challenge) that he overcame to get where he is today, this was his reply: 

‘As a teenager, I broke my back.  

I went from being top of my year academically and heavily involved in sport, to being unable to be active for nearly four years! 

My grades and confidence dropped, and I had to rebuild my identity at a time when everything felt uncertain. That experience forced me to adapt and keep going when it would have been easy to give up. I’m hugely grateful to my TWGSB teachers as well as my family and friends who supported me through that dark time. 

I’ve carried those lessons into adulthood - changing careers, returning to education, and bouncing back from redundancy twice. Learning to adapt and get comfortable with change has been one of the most important skills I’ve developed. 

One lesson that’s stayed with me is not to rush growing up.  

School can feel like something to “get through,” but it’s actually one of the few times in life when your main job is to learn, explore, and work out who you are. 

Time is precious – remains a mantra. – and to use it wisely, not wishing it away. 

Mr John Fowle was one of my favourite and most influential teachers! 

An extraordinary science teacher and a wonderful man. He showed huge compassion during that difficult period for me - following my back injury, even visiting me in hospital after spinal surgery.  

I remember how he regularly gave up his own time to take students to football matches in London (Charlton Athletic & QPR), driving us himself in the school minibus, and somehow even managed to get us tickets to see Michael Jackson at the old Wembley Stadium! 

I was deeply saddened recently to learn of his passing in 2025. He was a true credit to the school and to the wider Kent community. 

TWGSB teacher Mr Huw Jenkins was another who impacted my life positively as a brilliant Business and Economics teacher and former Head of Year.  

Passionate about life, supportive, and proudly Welsh with a great love of rugby, he taught me, inspired me, and supported me through my GCSEs and A-levels, especially when my grades dipped following my injury. His belief in me made a lasting difference, and I remain incredibly grateful for his support. 

Music has also always been part of my life. I played keyboard and digital piano as a child and took GCSE Music, but gave it up after losing interest in classical music and exams. After an 18-year break, I picked up the piano again, taught myself jazz (I’m still learning), and set up a band in 2019 while working full-time at John Lewis Partnership.  

We’ve since played across venues in London, including performing on stage at the prestigious Cadogan Hall, in the heart of Chelsea.  
It’s been a good reminder that it’s never too late to return to something you love, nor to late to learn a completely new skill. 

A last few thoughts would include a reminder that I didn’t know what I wanted to do beyond school. 
I studied business at university because I was good at it and it felt like a sensible option, not because I had my career mapped out.  
University was one option. I loved it, in fact enough to do it more than once! 

But it isn’t the only path to a fulfilling life or a meaningful career. There’s no blueprint for life and no single “correct” route. I’m still exploring even now! 

My pennies worth? 

Stay curious. Try new things. Step outside your comfort zone. 

And never forget to enjoy yourself along the way. 

As a certain 80s film reminds us, life moves quickly. If you never pause to look around, you risk missing what matters. 

Warm Regards,  

Adam Spink "

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjamesspink/ https://www.instagram.com/basementjazz.london/ 

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