I wanted to be an archaeologist from a very early age. I started out at the age of ten with ‘Magpies’ – the Bristol City Museum’s Young Archaeologists Club. From there I volunteered and later worked on sites run by the Museum and Bristol University.
I had a place at St David’s, Lampeter University, to study archaeology, but ultimately was unable to take it up owing to personal injury and family circumstances. Needing to earn a living, archaeology took a back seat until a couple of years ago. I was volunteering at a Meneage Archaeological Group site in Cornwall and while there I was encouraged by James Gossip, Site Director and Senior Archaeologist for the Cornwall Archaeological Unit, to work towards my Practitioner accreditation. He also offered me a place on his team at Pydar Street, Truro, and my work for the Unit rolled on from there, allowing me to consolidate what I already knew, learn new skills and update my knowledge.
The PCIfA route was perfect for me as it is hands on, job oriented and allowed me to become professional far faster than a degree would have, especially as I would have to study part time. I have also begun studying for a degree with UHI.
