James Bryant (-1999)

In my last year at Haberdashers I studied maths, economics, and physics and achieved grades of an A and two B’s (pretty average by current standards). This took me subsequently on to the University of Nottingham to study Manufacturing engineering and management (a four year masters course) that I am enjoying thoroughly and now look to attain a 2:1.

Throughout my time at University I have taken up many opportunities to get involved in extra curricula activities. I think I probably picked this up at Haberdashers’ through the various bands and orchestras that were on offer. However, university allows you to try new things, so in my first year I took a u-turn and chose involvement specifically in ones that were sports orientated.

Looking back at school, I suppose my only real sporting passion was football. Its just as well I continually remind myself that talent isn’t everything! At university however, there are currently 73 different sports on offer. No, I have not been involved in all of them, yet today I am required to know an awful lot about each one! This came about through my participation in the Students Union Executive elections at the end of last year. Through lengthy campaigning I successfully ran for Athletic Union President the most sort after student sabbatical job at the University’s Student Union.

The University of Nottingham’s Athletic Union’s mission statement ( of which I run) is ‘sport for all’. This means that given a budget of about £250,000, I have to cater for sport at both grass roots and elite levels for about 25,000 students. Compounded by our positioning within the top ten British sporting universities for the last 16 years, my position consequently carries a great deal of responsibility. Jumpers for goal posts it is not and at an organisational level it is complex given the infrastructure behind our sporting provision.

For many, sport entails a lifestyle change and its true value is difficult to comprehend. As the head of the Athletic Union I have the opportunity to make a real difference to students’ lives not only in the way things are run but new developments that hopefully improve student quality of life.

Now half way through my year in office I thought it was about time that I let you know what exactly I am up to. Furthermore I would also like to extend an offer that if someone is needed to talk about university sport or extra curricula activities that students can get involved in I would be more than willing.

If you are interested in finding out more please feel free to look at our new web site www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/~au or contact me on:

James Bryant
Athletic Union President
Athletic Union Office
Portland Building
University Campus
Nottingham
NG7 2RD

suathleticunion@nottingham.ac.uk

Tel: 0115 935 1152
Mob: 07786 435033

December 2002