Pat Reid (1986 Leaver) – Mad About The Bard
Mad about the Bard
One year ago, Merchants’ Old Boy Pat Reid (1986 Leaver) launched a free online magazine devoted to England’s greatest writer, William Shakespeare.
Launched to coincide with Shakespeare’s 450th birthday on 23 April 2014, Shakespeare Magazine quickly found readers all over the world – not bad for a publication initially put together in a bedroom in Bristol.
“At first I was working on the mag in my kitchen,” Pat says, “but then I had to move into the bedroom because the Wi-Fi signal was stronger!”
Born in Crosby, Pat grew up in Hightown and attended Merchants’ from 1977-86. A journalist for more than 20 years, he first specialized in music, then cinema, and now Shakespeare.
“My education at MTS played a big part in my appreciation of Shakespeare,” he says, “thanks to great English teachers like Jeremy Le Podevin, Chris Price and Andrew Rice-Oxley. I also benefitted from excellent history teachers Mr Gambles and Mr Murphy.”
Two of Pat’s younger brothers – Kiron and Julian – also attended the school. Kiron became a lecturer at Liverpool University, while Julian now works for Oxford University Press, based in Italy. Pat’s sister Liz attended MTGS and now teaches at a school in Southport.
Currently working on the seventh issue of Shakespeare Magazine, Pat is still in close touch with many good friends from school.
“It’s interesting that so many of us became writers and journalists,” he says. “Personally I feel very lucky and privileged because I get to immerse myself in the world of Shakespeare every day.”
Read all six free issues of Shakespeare Magazine here: http://issuu.com/shakespearemagazine
