84: John Partridge

Nostalgia Interviews with Chris Deacy

My guest this week is John Partridge, Honorary Lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Kent. John came to Canterbury from Bavaria in 1977 where he had taught English.

We talk about how we once bumped into each other at a Gerry and the Pacemakers gig and about broaching conversations with idols.

John tells us about his PhD on performative verbs and we discuss whether new forms of language have arisen since lockdown, and we learn why John is disinclined to use social media conventions.

We discover how John regrets not having taken full advantage of the many cultural benefits available in Liverpool (though he did gain two qualifications and a wife). We find out that he had a happy time growing up in Sutton Coldfield and doing lots of outdoor activities e.g. mountaineering, and John discloses why he is quite a parochial kind of person.

We learn that he meets up with friends from sixth form once or twice a year and we talk about how places mean different things to different people.

John discusses his experience of seeing The Kinks, The Who and PP Arnold perform at Liverpool Union and about how one’s children tend to do things which we don’t necessarily understand.

We learn that John didn’t grow up with a TV or record player, that he was good at languages at school, and originally wanted to be a fighter pilot. He recalls playing snooker on a tiny table and talks about how he doesn’t get politically active. We learn which party he has never voted for and we find out about his views on activism.

John reveals how he has had some wonderful experiences which he would hate not to have had and he shares his thoughts on how the university profession is not as rounded as it could be. John tells us about his dilemma around diaries and we learn why in his mind John still considers himself to be 16. Then, at the end of the interview, we find out whether John is a looking back or a looking forward kind of person.

Please note: Opinions expressed are solely those of Chris Deacy and John Partridge and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University of Kent.