"I would encourage every young person to engage with and embrace every educational opportunity offered to them. A good education gives you options."

Name: Philip Smith

When at Heathfields: 1983 - 1987

Current role: Captain, 787 Dreamliner with British Airways

What are your memories of HHS?

I came to Heathfield High School in May of 1983, having lived in the Fiji Islands. I  was soon given the imaginative nickname of “Fiji” often truncated to “Fij” (pronounced “Feege”). At the time, the charismatic Don Savage was the Head and “Officer Dibble” his Deputy (sorry I can’t remember his name - Mr Roberts??). 

I did my O levels in 1985 and A Levels in 1987. I drew so much inspiration and joy from so many of my excellent teachers, and their memory has stayed with me my entire adult life. They really did make a difference. I was taught History by Mr Hutchinson (Captain Caveman), Physics and Chemistry by the wonderful Doc Griffiths and Miss Bentley (with the colourful hair). Dave Gilbert taught English, and Maths was taught by Mr Palmer (formally Pratt), Keith Williams and Mr Broad. 

Route after HHS:

I did very well at O levels but less so at A levels (despite the best efforts of some of the aforementioned teachers). As such I ended up at Kingston Polytechnic and completed a four- year course in Aerospace Engineering. When I graduated I applied to join the RAF as a pilot but was turned down since they were not recruiting many pilots that year and I was, by then, twenty-three - old by “fast-jet” standards! So I went to work for the Ministry of Defence as a Helicopter Flight Test Engineer at a place called Boscombe Down. It was interesting work and I did get to do a lot of flying - mainly in helicopters, and albeit as an engineer. It all nearly ended in disaster in 1994 when I was injured in a flying accident in America. We were out in Arizona to test the, then new, Apache Longbow attack helicopter, when I was involved in a mid-air collision. The British Army went on to buy the Apache and I went onto make a full recovery from my injuries. 

I returned to work for the MOD and also joined the Royal Auxillary Air Force, as a part time “Air Mover”, stationed at RAF Brize Norton. This satisfied my “itch” to be involved with the RAF,  but I still really wanted to be a pilot. So in 1997 I applied for a place on the British Airways sponsored flying training scheme. To my surprise I was selected and went off to flying school in May of 1998. 

On completion of my training I joined British Airways proper in November 1999, as a First Officer on the short-haul Airbus fleet. I have now been with BA for nearly twenty-five years. In that time I spent twelve years flying the 747-400 (Jumbo), I've been a Trainer, Examiner and a Manager and I'm currently a Captain on the 787-Dreamliner, sat overlooking Hong Kong Harbour as I write this. 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Without doubt, a good education has been instrumental in allowing me to realise a  career that has been fulfilling and enjoyable and which has provided me a comfortable life. I would encourage every young person to engage with and embrace every educational opportunity offered to them. A good education gives you options.

I look back on my time at Heathfield High with great affection and gratitude.