First-Class Chris heads to a land down under

Chris Saxby is heading to Australia to study journalism, courtesy of his BA (Hons) degree in History from the University of Teesside. Chris, 21, from Elm Tree, Stockton, was offered a place on a Post-Graduate course in Journalism at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, provided he achieved a good 2.1 or a First in his History degree. He gained a First Class degree, and will head to Brisbane in 2002 for the one-year course.

Chris came to the University with three good ‘A’ levels in Computing, History and Sociology from Stockton Sixth Form College. He said: “I’ve enjoyed History since Secondary School, when I explored the French Revolution. I studied that again during my degree, it’s such an exciting period of change in French History. At Teesside I also enjoyed a module on James II, where we used a lot of primary source material such as old diaries.

“We also examined primary source material in the study of Victorian and Edwardian popular culture, including the novels of Charles Dickens. The Lecturers were all very helpful and available when you needed to see them. I was really pleased to get the First, although I didn’t know straight away as I went to see Madonna at Earl’s Court the day the results were out. My mother had left a message on my mobile about my result, but I hadn’t checked it.”

During the second year of his course Chris decided he wanted to study journalism abroad, and after consulting the University’s Careers Department, surfed the Internet in the Learning Resource Centre, and located the Queensland course.

Chris said: “The University of Queensland has offered a journalism programme since 1921, making it the oldest course in Australia and among the oldest in the world. It’s quite highly regarded; we’ll be studying radio, television and newspaper writing. I’m looking forward to seeing a totally different way of life; I visited Australia earlier this year and travelled to the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney. It’s such a diverse country and the people are very relaxed.”

When he finishes the course Chris is initially aiming for a career in newspaper journalism. He is currently working as a lifeguard and swimming coach at Thornaby pool. Swimming is a lifelong interest of Chris’ which he aims to continue down under, he swam for Stockton Aquatics club for 10 years and joined the University’s team in British University’s Sporting Association competitions.

Chris is the son of Renee Saxby and a former pupil of Grangefield Secondary School.

Tuesday 27 November 10.15am ceremony

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