Thought For The Day – Friday 15^th March 2024

Last Friday, TBSHS hosted the broadcaster Mr. Clive Tyldesley once again. 

Mr. Tyldesley broadcasts for ITV, CBS/Paramount and Amazon.  Mr. Tyldesley was such a wonderful guest speaker. 

Always a model of preparation, one of Mr. Tyldesley’s messages to Year 9 and Year 12 students was: “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”.  Mr. Tyldesley arrived early to the school.  He had spoken at Cambridge University the evening before.

In his eloquent presentation, and question and answer session that followed, in response to a thoughtful Year 9 question, Mr. Tyldesley spoke of how nerves are good, for they show that things matter, but that nerves can be, to a large extent, addressed by detailed prior preparation. A great life lesson.

Mr. Tyldesley stressed that engagement was key to communication, whether that be from a broadcaster or teacher. He mentioned Mr. Boxall by name. Great research. Yesterday was the International Day of Mathematics.  

At the heart of this message was a concept of service. Mr. Tyldesley stated that such engagement was based on understanding, and interacting with, the audience, not talking at people. A two-way relationship.   For him, broadcasting was about making one person feel you were communicating personally with them.  

Mr. Tyldesley made the audience at TBSHS feel equally special.

In response to an interesting Year 12 question, Mr. Tyldesley also stressed perspective and integrity for words, and actions,  matter. For accuracy, equality, inclusion, relevance and respect. For Mr. Tyldesley, the word “tragedy” should never be used of a sporting error on the field of play. It should be reserved for suffering and the loss of life, things Mr. Tyldesley has seen in his career,  and which had brought the greatest challenge to him as a broadcaster.

Mr. Tyldesley promoted the importance of dialogue, discussion, empathy,  listening and understanding, especially in times of national and global challenge.  He greatly questioned whether this could be done on social media and encouraged us not to be so always reliant on our mobile telephones. “You can support Spurs without hating Arsenal”, said Mr. Tyldesley.

Mr. Tyldesley replicated his broadcasting values. He took great time to give advice to students, making each feel they mattered. He showed great respect to the school community,  from the  first moment. His enthusiastic encouragement and engagement was clear to see.  Great people make other people feel special.

We are very grateful to Mr. Tyldesley and Mrs. Tyldesley, the project manager and organizer of the seminar on International Women’s Day, for their respect, time and their support.

Thank you very much indeed to all Year 9 and Year 12 students who were excellent and asked thoughtful questions.

In his presentation to Year 9 and 12 students, Mr. Tyldesley, modestly did not mention his excellent recent book or inspirational and meticulous commentary charts. Both are excellent examples of his work.  As is his appropriate and measured use of social media, where he shares his preparation and the reflective,  rigorous self-analysis and evaluation he undertakes post-match.

A great interview with Mr. Tyldesley, where he stresses many of the above messages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIgxv5jMnhk