How did being a typist influence you?

I started as a typist when I was 12 or 13, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions. We learned shorthand too, and all these skills became the foundation for so much later in life. It wasn’t just about typing - it was about adapting and learning new things. When I think about it, I’ve gone through so many changes in my working life, from manual typewriters to computers, and each stage taught me something new.

The typing skills stayed with me all my life - they were like muscle memory. Even now, people notice the difference in how I approach technology compared to others my age. It’s funny how something you learn so young can shape your whole life’s journey

Being a typist turned out to be quite useful in ways I never expected. When computers came along, I had to learn a whole new vocabulary - things like ‘font’ and ‘mouse.’ I remember going to Will Street to do a computer course, and as soon as I sat down at the keyboard, my fingers automatically went to the right places. The lady instructor came up behind me and said, ‘You’ve been a typist, haven’t you? A touch typist at that.’

I chose that commercial program because the keyboard was the closest thing to a piano. I used to strike too heavily on the computer keys because I was used to banging away on the old typewriters. Even with mobile phones, when I got my first one with the full keyboard on the screen, I understood it straight away because I’d learned proper typing all those years ago. It was like having a miniature typewriter in my hand. Funny how life prepares you for things you never expect.