Felix Pickles

Have you undertaken any kind of further study since leaving Bedales and have you gained any further qualifications?

I went to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where I got a First class BA in Professional Stage Management.

What kind of work are you currently involved in, and how and why have you come to be doing it?

I am a 2nd AC (camera assistant) at the moment, primarily working in film and commercial, with occasional TV work. The course at the Old Vic had an element of TV and film work, and I'd always been a photographer, so camera work appealed to me. I fell into it after I was given a job purely by chance as a camera trainee on a drama, and loved every moment of it. Everything snowballed from there, essentially.

Did attending Bedales help you in getting to where you are now and how satisfied are you with what you are doing?

Bedales certainly changed my outlook on life and what I wanted out of it - had I not gone there, I would have almost certainly gone into the military, at least for a short period. The theatre, especially, and the teachers involved within in (Jo Murphy, Jenni Britain, and Jo Greenwood) were heavily influential on my decision to change direction into the world of theatre/film/entertainment, and I owe them a huge debt. I get paid to do something that I love, and am incredibly lucky in that respect. I have very fond memories of Bedales - it changed my life in quite a strong fashion, I think. I'd love to be able to send my children there one day.