Old Hallfieldian Profile – Guy Taylor

We love to hear from former pupils, and were delighted when Old Hallfieldian Guy Taylor (1973-78), got in touch. He was keen to see if we could find some photos from our archive, and we didn’t disappoint!

• When did you attend Hallfield?

I joined Hallfield aged 8 in 1973, and left in 1978 when I was 13.

• What’s your favourite Hallfield memory?

I have so many favourite memories from my time at the school that it’s difficult to pick just one! I enjoyed impersonating the teachers (Commander Lyle, Mr Creasy and Mr Fisher). I also really enjoyed the sport. I wasn’t especially good but threw myself at all sports we were given the opportunity to play and really enjoyed it.

• What were your favourite subjects at Hallfield?

I particularly enjoyed French, Latin and Maths. I am dyslexic so found English really difficult – I remember being demoted from the ‘A’ stream to the ‘B’ stream and found everything so much easier! I had fond memories of all the teachers actually and think that’s why I enjoyed the lessons generally. I remember the science master telling my parents that I always used to ask lots of questions which he found a problem. Think it must have been a bit irritating though! One report said: “If Taylor’s results were half as good as the effort he put into his work, he’d be a scholar!”

• Did you take part in extra-curricular activities?

I did a lot of extra activities such as playing cricket and football out of hours. I also enjoyed chess, art, music and table tennis. At the time, boys could do boxing, but I was never ‘man’ enough to take part.

• Where did you go to secondary school?

After Hallfield, I boarded at Malvern College. Nothing prepared you for the brutality of boarding in the 70s, but the school’s facilities for sport were another league.

• Are you still in touch with your Hallfield friends?

I’m in touch with a few. I bumped into Vipan Maini about 5 years ago at a cricket match that both our sons were at. That was the first time I’d seen him since 1978 and it was as if we had been in touch ever since leaving school. I went to an Old Hallfieldian dinner at Edgbaston Golf Club quite a few years ago which was amazing and bump into mates every now and then.

• Have you been back to Hallfield since you left?

No but I would love to. I can remember all the hallways, classrooms and grounds, and would be really interested to see how the school has changed culturally as well as physically.

• Where did you go to University and what did you study?

I went to Kingston Polytechnic (now University) to study Estate Management and then spent a couple of years getting chartered (three actually because I had to re-take the exam and interview!). I then entered the world of commercial property in London.

• What is your career?

I spent over 30 years advising landlords on designing and letting their commercial property. Five years ago, I decided to have a change and now work with the London Estates advising on their residential, commercial and rural portfolios.

• Do you have any words of wisdom for current pupils?

Do what you enjoy most, work hard and get on with people.

If you’d like to share what you’ve been up to since leaving Hallfield, contact our Alumni and Development Officer, Kat de Polo here.