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Recorded on 17/01/2024
Bryan Walters works in an office in Leeds 4 days a week doing admin. On Wednesdays he works on Geography Juice, his YouTube channel about Leeds History and Geography.
Bryan went to Christ Church Upper Armley Primary, Armley Middle School and City of Leeds High School. He left school at 16 to be an apprentice at Systime Computers (The "Glass Palace" next to the White Rose, now Capita). Agreeing with his parents that he could stay on at school if he got 5 A to C's. In the meantime, Bryan went for many interviews. This was 1982. He really wanted the Systime job and was pleased when he got it, in spite of big competition. (He got his 5 A to C's.)
Having finished the apprenticeship in 1985 Bryan was employed by Systime as a systems engineer. In 1987 he became a field engineer and had a company car with fuel card, aged 21.
In 1993 Bryan started studying a degree course in Geography (his favourite subject) with the Open University in his spare time, whilst continuing on as a field engineer. In 1998 he graduated with a 2:1. At the same time his career in IT was developing fast. By 2001 he was General Manager of Services at SphinxCST (An offshoot of Systime which by then was defunct). Unfortunately, in 2003, the division was moved to another business in the south.
Bryan could have moved with it, but decided to take the plunge and do a PGCE at University of Leeds to become a Geography teacher. Bryan joined Kettlethorpe High School in 2004 (one of his training placement schools). In 2006 Bryan became Head of Geography. In 2021, suffering a period of ill health Bryan took the decision to leave teaching.
However, he still loves the subject and continues to make videos and engage with it. He also loves his home city and loves exploring it and sharing his discoveries. Bryan says, “I guess my 4 day a week job funds my 1 day a week job, although, TBH, I spend much of my spare time on Geography Juice.”
All Bryan’s social media channels are all @geogjuice
If you’re interested in Leeds then check out his YouTube work, it’s really well made, informative and entertaining.
And if you fancy spending some time on YouTube then check out Working Hours channel at https://www.youtube.com/@workinghourspodcast4618 were you can find audiogram versions of all the podcasts, and in the next episode, you’ll be able to see me and my guest so hit subscribe and ring the notification bell.
If you’re someone in Leeds or from Leeds, if you are Leeds, then please be the guest on Working Hours. Yes, I do mean you.
If you’re a Loiner who is interested in where you live, where you work or where you’re from then obviously listen to and support Working Hours but, also check out and support Bryan’s excellent Leeds content.
You can find Bryan's work for Geog Juice at:
https://www.facebook.com/geogjuice
https://youtube.com/@geogjuice
https://instagram.com/geogjuice
https://twitter.com/geogjuice
