Brentwood Prep Incipe 2019

Brentwood School Preparatory 26 Old Brentwoods We felt very lucky when Spencer kindly agreed to answer our questions about his time spent at the Prep and suggested a chat on the telephone. A thoroughly enjoyable phone call followed, during which we could sense the smile in his voice and his affection for the school. Could you tell us a little about your achievements since leaving school? Football is my passion. After uni I worked in football in a social media role, and then for a football YouTube channel, on the back of that, I started my own channel. I spent about ten years making videos on YouTube, then after five or six years I made it my full time job - now I’ve got about two million subscribers. I started a football team, Hashtag United. An interesting fact is that the first goal scorer for Hashtag also went to Brentwood Prep - there were six of us from the Prep in the first Hashtag team, it is steeped in Brentwood tradition! Hashtag won the English tenth tier by seven points this year and will be promoted to the ninth tier of English Football next season, we are very proud! The latest thing I’ve done was hosting the FIFA competitive E World Cup. According to Spencer, “Life is a game called Football and I intend to play it!” Was there a particular teacher you remember and why? Mr Haskett was a legend, he was my form teacher in Year Six, 6CH. He used to take parties of us up to London to the theatre at weekends, it was amazing. We went to Starlight Express a few times, The Mousetrap and Les Miserables. He went above and beyond, I wish him well. What was your favourite thing to do at the Prep? I used to love drama with Mr Barnet, the drama and RE teacher. I was in quite a few plays, we did Twelfth Night and another one called The Factory Children. I wasn’t really playing serious football at the time, but we liked playing football on the field at lunch time. My parents worked so I went to Late Stay pretty much every night. One of my best friends, who is still my best friend now, went as well so we used to like hanging out in Late Stay in the library. What was your best and worst school lunch? I can’t remember any bad ones, there was a cracking sponge cake and custard on a Friday which I used to love though! What did you want to be when you left the Prep? When I was really young I wanted to be an artist but I don’t think I was ever really that good. My Mum thought that’s what I would do though. It was probably towards the end of the Prep (I was a massive attention seeker!) when I got really interested in drama, then later in secondary school I got involved in Hospital Radio and stand up comedy. I always read a lot so I ended up doing English Literature at University. I really admire Douglas Adams who wrote the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I always loved that book and I thought it was really cool that he went to my school! What words of wisdom would you have for pupils at Brentwood Prep today? First and foremost, the old cliche, enjoy your time at school. Sorry, I know that’s what your Grandad always says! Make great friendships - I’ve still got my friends now that I made at school. Be kind to others. Understand that people are all from different backgrounds and going through different things in life, so be kind. Try different things. I got involved in loads of different things to try and find out what I really liked to do and had a great time doing it all. Try hard, it’s a great opportunity to be at Brentwood Prep, you’ve got good teachers and facilities so make the most of it. Spencer Owen Spencer Owen is a British FIFA gamer on YouTube best known for his SpencerFC channel. He is also the creator of the professional eSports football team Hashtag United.