A Walk in the Extended National Park

As I walked in to Stockport Town Hall as a typical disengaged fifteen year old, I didn’t realise that the next 15mins would have such a profound effect on the rest of my life. I was there to attend a scheduled career interview and the only good point was, that I, along with many others had been given the morning off school to attend. It was a typical grey Manchester day and although the Town Hall is the epitome of Edwardian elegance with a magnificent Italian entrance and a must see Wurlitzer organ. I had the distinct impression they would not be able to help me. I was directed to a basement office with no natural light, the walls and floors were packed with boxes and the office had the distinct smell of an old musty library.  From behind a desk and a mountain of paperwork a warm friendly voice asked “ What do you want to do when you leave school”.  “I want to be a Ranger” I replied and for good measure, I added, “in  Africa.”